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DA 


DaC- 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR 


NORTHERN    &  EASTERN   SECTION 
comprising: 

TAVISTOCK,  LYDFORD, 

Ikehampton  &  SticRlepath  Districts, 

AND 

CHAGFORD,  MORETON, 

,  tleigh  6  Bovey  Tracey  Districts. 


By 
W.  CROSSING, 


A.  WHEATON  6  Co.,  Ltd., 

Bonk*ellcrs  61  Stationers, 
223  High  Street,  EXETER,  and  6XMOUTH, 


FOREWORD. 


Having  purchased  the  remaining  stock  of  Mr.  Crossing's  "  GUIDE 
TO  DARTMOOR,''  we  have  pleasure  in  offering  the  same  to  the  lovers  of 
Dartmoor  in  a  more  convenient  form  than  previously  issued,  ar\d  it  is 
hoped  in  the  amended  form  it  will  prove  much  more  practicable  <o  the 
Rambler  and  the  Tourist. 

This  volume  comprises  Parts  2  and  3,  which  covers  the  Northern  and 
imiUlUiM  uf  Uie_Moor.     The  .Sojithern  and  Western  portions, 


containing  Parts  1,4  and  5,  can  be  obtained  in  a  uniform  volume,  which 
describes  Princetown,  Two  Bridges,  Ashburton,  Brent,  Ivybridge, 
Plympton,  Shaugh,  Yelverton  and  the  surrounding  Tors,  Crosses 
and  Antiquities. 

Visitors  to  the  West  will  find  our  moorland  country  a  source  of 
interest  and  delight,  and  during  their  perambulations  will  no  doubt  be 
glad  to  become  acquainted  with  other  works  relating  to  Glorious 
Devon.  We  therefore  invite  enquiries,  which  shall  receive  prompt  and 
careful  attention. 

A.  WHEATON    &   Co.,  LTD. 
223  HIGH  STREET,  EXETER. 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR: 

A  Topographical  Description 
of  the  Forest  and  Commons 


BY 

WILLIAM    CROSSING, 

AUTHOR    OF 

Tke  Ancient  Stone  Crosses  of  Dartmoor  and  Its  Borderland,  Amid  Devonia's  Alpx 

Tales  of  the  Dartmoor  Pixies,  Gems  in  a  Granite  Setting,  A  Hundred 

Years  on  Dartmoor,  Folk  Rhymes  of  Devon, 

From  a  Dartmoor  Cot,  S-c. 

t 


WITH     MAPS    AND    SKETCHES. 

A   NEW  EDITION    IN   FIVE   PARTS. 


PART   U. 

Tavistock,  Lydford,  Okehampton  and 
Sticklepath   Districts. 


'  The  Freehold  of  Nature,  though  rugged  it  be, 
Long,  long  may  it  flourish  unsullied  and  free  ! 
May  the  fox  love  to  kennel,  the  buzzard  to  soar, 
As  tenants  of  Nature  on  rugged  Dartmoor." 

Rev.  E.  W.  L.  DA  VIES. 


fiieter : 

A.   WHEATON  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Booksellers  and  Stationers, 
223   High  Street. 


OUT  OF  THE  LAND  OF  GORSE  AND  HEATHER 

TO 

THE   RIGHT   WORSHIPFUL 

TUB   MAYOR   AND   MAYORESS   OF   PLYMOUTH, 
A.    EDMUND   SPENDER,    B.A., 

AND 

HELEN    FRANCES  SPENDER, 
GREETING. 


871798, 


PREFACE  TO  THIRD  EDITION. 


THE  favourable  reception  accorded  to  the  former  editions  of  this  Guide 
has  rendered  a  further  issue  necessary.  In  this  some  considerable 
alterations  in  the  arrangement  have  been  made.  While  a  description 
of  Dartmoor  in  one  volume  had  much  to  recommend  it,  the  plan  was 
also  not  without  its  disadvantages.  The  ground  covered  being 
extensive  it  was  impossible  to  produce  such  a  book  as  the  author 
considered  the  subject  demanded  without  its  becoming  rather  bulky, 
and  this  was  inconvenient  from  the  tourist's  point  of  view.  It  is  now 
divided  into  five  parts,  but  there  has  been  no  abridgement  of  matter. 
The  few  alterations  in  the  text  are  chiefly  of  the  nature  of  additions 
which  were  needed  in  order  to  bring  the  book  up  to  date. 

The  author  is  much  gratified  at  knowing  that  the  Guide  has  been 
found  helpful  by  the  tourist  in  the  past,  and  ventures  to  believe  that 
in  its  present  form  it  will  prove  of  still  greater  value  in  the  future. 

Br.ACK  DOWN,  DARTMOOR, 
May  1914. 


vi. 


DARTMOOR    GUIDE. 


EXETER. 

POPLE'S 

NEW    LONDON    HOTEL 

(Visited  by  their  Majesties  The  King  and  Queen,  King  Edward  VII. 
and  Queen  Victoria.) 

Officially    appointed    by    the    "  Royal    Automobile    Club," 
and   the    "Automobile    Association." 


A  charming  i8th  Century  Hotel,  with  every  modern  comfort 
and  luxury.  Beautiful  covered  Courtyard  as  Lounge.  Near  the 
Cathedral  and  Railway  Stations.  Electric  Light.  Night  Porter. 

SPLENDID    MOTOR    GARAGE 

Adjoining  the  Hotel,   with   Lock-up   Private   Boxes  and 
Inspection   Pits. 


Telegrams:  "  Pople,  Exeter. 


Telephone:  146,  Exeter. 
R.     POPLE,    Proprietor. 


Houses 


Let 

Sold 

Built 

Repaired 

Painted 

Decorated. 


For  anything  to  do 
with  Houses  or 
Building 
Land  in 


The 


Howard, 

Contractor 
and  House  Agent 

ROCKVALE,  YELVERTON. 


PREFACE. 


DURING  recent  years  the  claims  of  Dartmoor  as  a  holiday  and  health 
resort  have  become  widely  recognized.  Those  to  whom  an  old  world 
region  is  an  attraction  will  find  in  it  a  field  of  surpassing  interest.  No 
district  in  England  of  similiar  extent  is  so  rich  in  pre-historic  remains, 
and  :in  none  does  Nature  wear  a  wilder  aspect. 

To  this  elevated  tract  of  land  no  guide  book,  in  the  true  sense  of 
the  term,  has  hitherto  appeared.  It  has,  of  course,  been  noticed  in 
county  guides,  and  there  are  also  topographical  works  and  handbooks 
descriptive  of  it,  but  in  the  former  the  accounts  are  necessarily  super- 
ficial, while  in  the  latter  the  visitor  is  not  given  any  directions  for 
finding  his  way  over  those  parts  of  the  waste  remote  from  roads.  To 
enable  him  to  learn  what  Dartmoor  really  is  he  needs  something  beyond 
notices  of  the  more  celebrated,  because  more  readily  accessible,  places 
and  objects  of  interest.  He  should  be  led  from  the  beaten  track,  and 
wander  among  the  hills  where  signs  of  man's  occupancy  are  not,  where 
silence  broods  over  the  sea  of  fen,  and  the  pasture  grounds  of  the 
cattle  that  range  at  will  are  as  they  were  when  the  Norman  herdsman 
drove  his  beasts  there ;  or  he  should  stray  into  solitary  combes 
encumbered  with  the  ruined  huts  and  fallen  rock-pillars  of  the  people 
who  once  made  this  wild  land  their  home.  As  my  acquaintance  with 
Dartmoor  is  a  life-long  one,  and  as  it  has  been  with  me  a  subject  of 
study  and  of  systematic  investigation  during  many  years,  it  is  with 
some  degree  of  confidence  that  I  take  upon  myself  the  task  of  con- 
ducting the  visitor  over  it,  and  leading  him  into  its  remoter  parts. 

This  book  is  the  first  to  give  a  complete  topographical  description 
of  Dartmoor,  and  the  reader  may  depend  upon  its  being  correct.  Its 
aim  is  to  furnish  the  visitor  with  an  account  of  all  that  is  to  be  found 
on  the  moor  worthy  of  note,  and  to  acquaint  him  with  the  best  means 
of  reaching  the  various  objects  from  any  point.  The  districts  into 
which  the  moor  has  been  divided  are  described  in  the  excursions,  and 


vili  PREFACE. 

at  the  end  of  these  are  given  routes  to  each  of  the  other  districts.  By 
this  arrangement  the  moor  is  crossed  in  every  conceivable  direction, 
so  that  it  is  not  possible  to  find  any  part  of  it  that  is  not  noticed  some- 
where in  the  book.  For  the  sake  of  convenience  the  terms  used  in 
connection  with  the  forest  and  commons  are  given,  with  their  mean- 
ings, in  glossarial  form,  some  archa?ological  terms  being  also  included. 

I  desire  to  express  my  thanks  to  Mr.  PHILIP  GUY  STKVENS,  of 
Princetown,  for  the  series  of  pen-and-ink  sketches  he  has  been  at  such 
pains  to  furnish,  and  which  were  executed  on  the  spot.  It  is  hoped 
they  will  be  found  useful  as  a  means  of  helping  the  visitor  to  identify 
the  principal  tors  and  hills. 

If  I  gain  the  confidence  of  the  rambler  who  uses  this  book  my 
satisfaction  will  be  complete.  There  is  some  reason  for  me  to  hope 
that  I  shall  do  so,  as  I  venture  to  believe  that  he  will  discover  ere  we 
have  gone  far  on  our  wanderings  together  that  I  am  really  and  truly  a 
Dartmoor  man. 

Ji  * 


"Plume    of    Feathers"    Hotel, 

OKEHAMPTON. 

FOR    TOURISTS    AND    VISITORS    TO    THE    MOORS. 


Situate  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  within  easy  reach  of  the 
Golf  Links. —   — Motor  Cars,  Landaus,  Wagonettes,  etc.,  for  hire. 

Telegrams:  "Plume,  Okehampton."  Telephone  No.  15. 

W.    Y.     PALMER,     Proprietor. 


THE     DARTMOOR 

SANITARY  HAND  AND  STEAM  LAUNDRY 

North  Street,  OKEHAMPTON.— 

The  water  used  is  supplied  from  the  springs  of  Dartmoor. 
Spacious  Open-air  Drying  Ground.  No  Chemicals  used. 
Weekly  Collection  and  Delivery  by  Motor  Van. 
Your  Patronage  Solicited.  .  .  Inspection  Invited. 

J.    T.    MILLER, 
Telephone  No.  6.  Proprietor. 


CONTENTS, 
PART  II. 

PAGE 

Road  Distances  to  Tavistock i 

„             „         Lydford       30 

,,             ,,         Okehampton       59 

Important  Points  near  Tavistock      i 

Lydford         30 

,,                 ,,            Okehampton         60 

Excursion  7.     Prom  Tavistock 2 

8         ,,              ,,              8 

,,         9         ,,             ,,             16 

Shorter  Excursions          ,,     15  to  24          23 

Route     9.     Tavistock  to  Lydford  and  Okehampton 25 

10.              ,,          Chagford  and  Moreton         25 

,,      n.             ,,          Bovey  Tracey        27 

,,      12.             ,,          Ashburton  and  Buckfastleigh 27 

13.  ,,          Brent  and  Ivybridge 27 

14.  ,.          Plympton  and  Shaugh         27 

15.  ,,          Princetown  and  Two  Bridges 27 

Routes  to  Cranmere  from  Tavistock  and  Brent  Tor 28 

Lydford  Gorge        30 

Excursion  10.     Prom  Lydford 31 

n.         ,,             , 38 

(Including  Extension  to  Fur  Tor  and  Cut  Hill). 

Excursion  12.     From  Lydford 47 

13-         ,.             .,          49 

Cut  Hill  to  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges       44,  45 

Shorter  Excursions  from  Lydford.  25   to   33            53 


x.  CONTENTS.     PART   II. 

PAGE 

Route  1 6.     Lydford  to  Okehampton        55 

17.  ,,        Chagford  and  Moreton 55 

,,      18.  ,,        Bovey  Tracey  55 

19.  ,,        Ashburton         56 

,,      20.  ,,        Brent  and  Ivybridge      56 

„      21.  ,,        Plympton  and  Shaugh 56 

„      22.  ,,        Princetown        57 

(For  Two  Bridges  direct  see  R.  18,  19.     Reverse  R.  51,  44  ;  or  R.  2B). 

Route  23.     I/ydford  to  Tavistock 57 

Routes  to  Cranmere  from  Lydford,  Bridestowe,  and  Sourton        .  .  57 

Okehampton 61 

„  to  Belstone  and  Sticklepath 63 


Excursion 

Cosdon 
Excursion 

14. 

IS- 
1  6. 

17- 

From 
From 

Okehamp 
Belstone 

iton     

..      ..     66 

60 

76 

and  Sticklepath 

..      ..      81 
8; 

18. 

From 

Belstone 

and  Sticklepath     .  . 

.  .     .  .     89 

Shorter  Excursions  from  Okehampton,   34  to  40       92 

,,                 ,,  Belstone,  41,  42       95 

,,  Sticklepath,  43  to  46 96 

,,  Throwleigh,  47         99 

Route  24.     Okehampton  to  Chagford  and  Moreton      100 

25.             ,,  Bovey  Tracey           101 

,,      26.             ,,  Ashburton         102 

27.             ,,  Brent  and  Ivybridge      103 

,,      28.             ,,  Corn  wood  and  Plympton      104 

,,      29.             ,,  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges       .  .      . .  104 

,,      30.             „  L,ydford  and  Tavistock          105 

Routes  to  Cranmere  from  Okehampton,  Belstone,  Sticklepath,  and 

South  Zeal 107 


DARTMOOR   GUIDE. 


xi. 


A.     J.     PARKER, 

FOUNTAIN     HOTEL, 

OKEHAMPTON. 

WINES  3  SPIRITS  OF  THE  FINEST  QUALITY. 

Spacious  Stabling.   Posting.    Headquarters  "Ye  Oke'ton  Lodge,"  R.A.O.B.,  G.L.E. 
every   Monday   8.30   p.m.  Loyal   "Ockment"    Lodge   of   Oddfellows   every 

fourth  Tuesday.  Telegrams:  "Parker,  Fountain." 


MAPS. 

Sketch  Map  of  the  Moor facing  page 

Surroundings  of  Cranmere ,,          ,, 

ONE     INCH     MAPS. 

3  Tavistock  District 

4  „  „  , 

5 
6 

7 

8: 


I/ydf ord  District       

Extensions  to  Cut  Hill 

I/ydford  and  Okehampton  Districts    . . 
Okehampton  and  Chagford  Districts  . . 


i 
28 


34 
42 
50 
78 


The  numbers  of  the  Routes  and  Excursions  as  given  in  the  first 
edition  of  the  Guide  are  retained  throughout.  T.  .signifies  Track  ; 
Ex.  or  S.  Ex.,  Excursion  or  Shorter  Excursion  ;  R.,  Route  ;  and  C.  R., 
Cranmere  Route.  The  entire  length  of  each  Excursion  is  given  ; 
Route  distances  are  given  one  way  only. 


OKEHAMPTON,  HATHERLEIGH  ft  BOW,  DEVON;  and  at  BUDE,  CORNWALL. 


CONNOLE 


HOUSE  FURNISHERS, 

Shipping  and  Immigration  Agents 

for  the  Australian  Commonwealth 

and    New    Zealand. 


Telephone:   BUDE  31;      OKEHAMPTON    15. 


xii.  DARTMOOR   GUIDE. 


SIDMOUTH    (Devon). 

The 


Fortfield    Hotel. 

Greatly  Enlarged.        New  Wings. 
Electric  Light  Throughout.  Lifts  to  all  Floors. 


(~)N  Eof  the  most  comfortable  Hotels  on 
^  the  South  Coast.  Unequalled  posi- 
tion. Situated  in  its  own  charming 
Grounds.  Full  South  and  facing  sea; 
having  two  full-sized  Croquet  Lawns. 
Handsomely  furnished  by  Maple  &  Co. 
Complete  with  every  luxury  and  con- 
venience. Near  to  Brine  Baths  and 
convenient  to  Golf  Links.  Sanitary 
arrangements  perfect.  Large  and  com- 
modious bedrooms.  Handsome  private 
Suites  of  Apartments,  either  on  ground 
floor,  first  or  second  floors  with  Bath- 
rooms and  Lavatories.  Corridors  carefully 
heated.  Spacious  Public  Rooms. 
Billiards.  High-class  Cuisine.  Selected 
Wines.  Moderate  and  inclusive  terms. 


Telephone  -r     -rt  i-       •  r» 

NO.  39.  1  anfr  on  application  to  Proprietor. 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR. 

IN  FIVE  PARTS. 


Part  I.     PRINCETOWN,  Two  BRIDGES,  HEXWORTHY,  AND  POST  BRIDGB 
DISTRICTS. 

Deals  with  the  whole  of  the  central  part  of  the  Moor,  and 
contains  notices  of  Crazy  Well  Pool,  Siward's  Cross,  Childe's  Tomb, 
the  Merivale  Antiquities,  Mis  Tor,  Wistman's  Wood,  Dartmeet,  etc. 

Excursions  i  to  6  ;  41  to  46.  Shorter  Exs.  i  to  14.  Routes 
i  to  8.  Cranmere  Routes  i,  2,  15,  16,  17. 

Part    II.     TAVISTOCK,    LYDFORD,    OKEHAMPTON,    AND    STICKLEPATH 
DISTRICTS. 

Describes  Northern  Dartmoor,  extending  from  Sampford 
Spiney  on  the  West  to  Throwleigh  on  the  East :  Notices  Brent 
Tor,  Lydford  Gorge,  Hill  Bridge,  Tavy  Cleave,  Fur  Tor,  the 
Island  of  Rocks,  Yes  Tor,  the  Belstone  Range,  Cosdon,  etc. 

Excursions  7  to  18.  S.  Exs.  15  to  47.  Routes  9  to  30. 
C.R.  3  to  ii. 

Part  III.    CHAGFORD,   MORETON,   LUSTLEIGH,   AND   BOVEY  TRACEY 
DISTRICTS. 

A  Description  of  Eastern  Dartmoor  :  This  part  contains  a 
notice  of  Cranmere  Pool,  and  among  other  places  and  objects 
included  in  the  Excursions  are  the  Scorhill  and  Kes  Tor  Antiquities, 
Teign  Head,  Fernworthy,  Grim's  Pound,  Drewsteignton  Dolmen, 
Fingle  Bridge,  Lustleigh  Cleave,  Hey  Tor,  etc. 

Excursions  19  to  25.  S.  Exs.  48  to  87.  Routes  31  to  46. 
C.  R.  12,  13,  14. 


xiv.  DARTMOOR    GUIDE. 

Part     IV.      ASHBURTON,      BRENT,      IVYBRIDGE,      AND     CORNWOOD 
DISTRICTS. 

The  whole  of  Southern  Dartmoor,  so  rich  in  antiquities  and 
charming  border  scenery,  is  described  in  this  part.  Among  other 
places  noticed  are  Rippon  Tor,  Widecombe-in-the-Moor,  the 
Buckland  Woods,  Holne  Chase,  Brent  Moor,  Shipley,  ttie  Valley 
of  the  Erme,  Stowford  Cleave,  Hawns  and  Dendles,  etc. 

Excursions  26  to  34.  S.  Ex,s.  88  to  121.  Routes  47  to  66. 
From  the  southern  part  of  the  moor  the  starting  points  of  the 
Cranmere  Routes  are  Princetown,  Two  Bridges,  and  Post  Bridge, 
C.R.  i,  2,  16,  17.  These  are  given  in  Part  I. 

Part     V.      PI.YMPTON,      SHAUGH,      YELVERTON,     AND      DOUSLAND 
DISTRICTS. 

Describes  Western  Dartmoor  from  Cornwood  to  the  Walkham  : 
Shaugh  Bridge,  the  Dewer  Stone,  the  Plym  Valley,  Meavy,  Sheeps 
Tor,  and  the  Burrator  Lake.  This  part  also  contains  a  brief 
description  of  the  old  pack-horse  tracks  on  the  Moor,  to  which 
reference  is  frequently  made  in  the  book,  as  well  as  a  Dictionary 
of  Terms  used  in  connection  with  the  Forest  and  Commons. 

Excursions  35  to  40.  Routes  67  to  76.  For  Cranmere  Routes 
see  Princetown,  Two  Bridges,  and  Post  Bridge,  C.R.  i,  2,  1 6.  17,  in 
Parti. 


Each  Part  contains  directions  for  reaching  Cranmere  Pool  from 
the  Districts  described  in  it. 


BELSTONE,    DARTMOOR, 
Mrs.    ARSCOTT,    "Ferndale." 

Furnished  and  Board  Apartments  on  the  Moor,  with  extensive 
views.  1100  feet  above  sea  level.  Fishing,  Rough  Shooting, 
Golf.  ::  Hot  and  Cold  Baths.  ::  Home  Produce. 

^«x   TELEGRAMS:  "ARSCOTT,  BELSTONE."    x^v. 


DARTMOOR    GUIDE.  xv 

BELSTONE. 
Mi-s.  PIKE,   Moorland  House, 

Furnished  and  Board  Apartments  on  the  Moor.  Nicely  shaded, 
with  extensive  views.  1 100  feet  above  sea  level.  Fishing, 
Rough  Shooting,  Tennis,  etc.  ::  ::  Hot  and  Cold  Baths. 

Terms  Moderate.        Horses  and  Carriages  on  Hire. 


Where  reference  is  made  to  other  of  the  Author's 
books  the  titles  are  thus  abbreviated. 

'  A  Hundred  Years  on  Dartmoor"      ..       ...          ..  100  Years. 

'  Gems  in  a  Granite  Setting  "  . .          . .          . .  Gems. 

'The  Ancient  Stone  Crosses  of  Dartmoor   and   Its 

Borderland"  ..          ..          ..          ..          ..  Crosses. 

'  Amid  Devonia's  Alps "  ..          ..          ..          ..  Dev.  Alps. 

'  Tales  of  the  Dartmoor  Pixies  "  Pixies 


"Tor's"  Hotel,  Belstone,  Devon 

Proprietor        -        J.  Y.  FRENCH. 

Under  New  Management.  Situated  on  Dartmoor,  with  unrivalled 
Moorland  Scenery,  one  of  the  healthiest  parts  of  England.  Hot  and 
Cold  Water  Baths.  Sanitation  Perfect.  Trout  Fishing.  Motor 
Garage  and  Good  Stabling.  Carriages  of  every  description. 

LUNCHEONS  &  TEAS.    MODERATE  TARIFF, 


Telegraphic  Address— "  Tor's  Hotel,  Belstone."  Stations— Okehampton  and 

Sampford  Courtenay  (L.  &  S.W.R.) 


SKETCH     MAP 


PLYMOUTH 


BOUND2XBIES  OF  DAPTMOOR  ^ 
FOREltST  *v  COMMOMS 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR. 


TAVISTOCK   DISTRICT. 

DISTANCES.  BY  ROAD  :  ASPIBURTON,  via  Two  Bridges,  21  m. 
BOVEY  TRACEY,  via  T.B.,  25.!-  m.  BRENT  TOR,  3$  m.  Do. 
VILLAGE,  41  m.  EUCKF  AST  LEIGH,  via  T.B.,  22  m.  CHAG- 
FORD,  via  T.B.,  i84  m.  Cornwood,  via  Whitchurch  and  Grenofen 
Cross,  Horrabridge,  Walkhampton,  Dousland  and  Cadaford  Bridge 
(9),  I3f  m.  DARTMEET,  via  T.B.,  13  m.  DARTMOOR  INN, 
LYDFORD,  via  Heathfield,  8|  m.,  via  Black  Down,  ;J  m.  DOUS- 
LAND, 54  m.  EXETER,  ma'Okehampton,  38  m.  HEXWORTHY, 
via  T.B.,  13^  m.  HILL  BRIDGE,  via  Peter  Tavy,  sj  m.  ;  urn  Mary 
Tavy  and  Zoar  Down,  7^  m.  HOLNE,  via  T.B.,  18  m.  HORRA- 
BRIDGE, via  Whitchnrch,  34  m.  Do.  STATION,  via  Magpie,  4  m. 
IVYBRIDGE,  see  Cornwood,  add  3  m.  LANE  END,  for  Tavy 
Cleave,  6f  m.  LYDFORD,  via  Heathfield  and  Manor  Hotel,  j\  m.  ; 
via  Black  Down  and  Skit,  8  m.  ;  via  Black  Down  and  Dartmoor  Inn, 
84-  m.  MARY  TAVY,  3^  m.  MERIVALE  BRIDGE,  4$  m. 
MORETON,  via  T.B.,  20  m.  OKEHAMPTON,  16  m.  PETER 
TAVY,  3  m.  PLYMOUTH,  14  m.  PLYMPTON,  via  Roborough, 
George  Hotel,  and  Plym  Bridge,  14  m.  POST  BRIDGE,  via  T.B., 
1 1 4-  m.  POUND'S  GATE,  via  T.B.,  i6j-  m.  PRINCETOWN,  7*  m. 
R UNDLE  STONE,  6  m.  5.4 MPFORD  SPINE  Y,  3$  m .  SHA  UGH, 
via  Dousland  and  Cadaford  Bridge,  io4-  m.  SHEEPSTOR  VILLAGE, 
-2\  m.  from  Dousland  round  Yennadon.  SOURTON,  n  m.  SOUTH 
BRENT,  via  Ivybridge,  2 if  m.  TAVY  CLEAVE  (see  Lane  End). 
TWO  BRIDGES,  8  m.  WALREDDON  (West  Down  Gate,  for  Double 
Waters),  2^  m.  WAPSWORTHY,  via  Peter  Tavy,  5^  m.  WARREN 
HOUSE  INN,  via  T.B.,  13!  m.  WIDECOMBE,  via  T.B.,  18  m. 
YELVERTON,  5  m. 

BY  RAIL  :  EXETER  (L.S.W.),  42  m.  LYDFORD  (L.S.W.,  64-  m., 
G.W.,  7  m.)  OKEHAMPTON  (L.S.W.),  i6£  m.  PLYMOUTH 
(L.S.W.),  204- m.  (G.W.),  i6fm.  [Fares  the  same.]  PRINCETOWN 
(G.W.),  16  in.  YELVERTON,  (G.W.),  54-  m. 


Important  Points  and  Landmarks. 

Hill  Bridge— Merivale  Bridge— Mis  Tor— Sandy  Ford  (Walkham) 
— Warren's  Cross.  Places  of  Interest.  Brent  Tor — Black  Down — 
Cocks'  Tor,  Staple  Tors  and  Roose  Tor — Lydford  (Lydford  District) 
—Peter  Tavy  Combe— Pu  Tor — Sampford  Spiney— The  Tavy  below 
Horndon — Valley  of  the  Walkham — Vixen  Tor — Whitchurch  Down — 
White  Tor.  Prehistoric  Antiquities.  Langstone  Moor :  stone  circle  and 
menhir,  and  hut  circles  at  White  Tor,  or  Whittor,  and  Wed  Lake — 

B2 


2  TAVI8TOCK    DISTRICT. 

Merivale :  rows,  huts,  and  menhir.    Mining,  Remains.    Walkham  :  blow- 
ing houses  near  Merivale  Bridge,  and  streaming  remains  above  Mis  Tor. 

Tavistock  is  about  two  miles  from  Dartmoor,  but  is  very  near  to 
Whitchurch  Down,  which  at  one  time  formed  a  spur  of  the  moor. 
As  one  of  the  stannary  towns  it  was  connected  with  it  during  several 
centuries,  and  there  is  early  mention  of  lands  in  the  parish  possessing 
venville  rights.  One  of  the  town's  benefactors,  John  D'Abernon, 
held  high  offices  in  connection  with  Dartmoor  in  the  fourteenth  century. 
The  Fitz  family,  of  Fitzford,  were  early  possessors  of  land  on  Dart- 
moor, and  of  these  one  of  the  members  was  the  notorious  Lady 
Howard.  The  Abbey  was  founded  in  961,  by  Ordgar,  Earl  of  Devon, 
and  in  it  was  afterwards  preserved  the  important  charter  by  which 
King  John  disafforested  the  County  of  Devon,  with  the  exception  of 
Dartmoor  and  Exmoor. 

Three  inscribed  stones  of  early  date  are  to  be  seen  in  the  vicarage 
garden.  One  was  discovered  in  the  town,  and  the  others  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  it. 


Excursions  from  Tavistock. 

Tracks  in  the  vicinity,  Nos.  i,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  21,  22,  23. 
[The  area  over  which  these  excursions  extend  is  bounded  on  the  E.  by 
the  Walkham,  and  on  the  N.  by  an  imaginary  line  drawn  from  i  m. 
below  the  head  of  that  stream  to  Hill  Bridge,  and  thence  to  Lydford 
Station.  The  Merivale  Antiquities  and  Mis  Tor  are  noticed  in  the 
Princetown  District,  and  Tavy  Cleave  in  the  Lydford  District  but 
directions  for  reaching  them  are  given  here.  Ex.  7,  9.] 

Ex.  7. — Whitchurch  Down,  Pu  Tor,  Sampford  Spiney,  Ward  Bridge, 
Valley  of  the  Walkham,  Vixen  Tor,  The  Windy  Post,  12  m. 

We  leave  the  town  by  a  path  opposite  to  the  entrance  to  the 
G.W.R.  Station,  which  will  lead  us  to  Whitchurch  Down.  When  we 
enter  upon  the  down  we  pass  upward  with  the  enclosures  L.,  and  at  a 
distance  of  about  1 50  yards  from  the  higher  corner  of  these  shall  reach 
what  is  known  as  the  Square  Seat.  Here  is  a  good  view  of  the  town 
we  have  just  left,  and  also  an  exceedingly  fine  one  of  the  moor,  extend- 
ing from  the  range  on  which  Great  Links  Tor  is  situated  to  the  Dewer 
Stone,  and  including  among  other  prominent  heights  Hare  Tor,  above 
Tavy  Cleave,  White  Tor,  Cocks'  Tor  Hill,  the  Staple  Tors,  and  North 
Hisworthy.  (For  the  latter  see  Princetown  District).  We  can  also  look 
away  to  the  S.W.  corner  of  the  moor,  where  Pen  Beacon,  overlooked  by 
Shell  Top,  rises  above  Cornwood  (Ex.  36,  R.  7).  Northward  is  Brent 
Tor  (Ex.  9),  and  to  the  R.  of  it  the  wide  sweep  of  Black  Down.* 

*  A  road  now  leads  to  Whitchurch  Down.  This  was  made  by  the 
Duke  of  Bedford,  and  forms  an  excellent  approach  to  what  must  be 
regarded  as  not  the  least  among  the  attractions  of  which  Tavistock  is 
the  happy  possessor.  The  road  leaves  the  main  one  leading  to  Whit- 
church just  beyond  the  G.W.R.  Station,  branching  on  the  L.,  and  is 
carried  across  the  path  above  named. 


EXCURSION  7.       WHITCHURCH    DOWN.  3 

[Prom  the  E.  end  of  the  town  a  road  leads  to  Whitchurch  Down 
from  Vigo  Bridge.  In  ascending  the  hill  a  steep,  narrow  pack-horse 
track  branching  R.  may  be  followed,  or  the  more  circuitous  way  by  the 
road  be  chosen.  In  the  latter  case  the  visitor  turns  R.  opposite  to  the 
entrance  to  Mount  Tavy,  the  point  gained  being  the  same.  Just 
where  the  road  enters  on  the  down  there  is  a  granite  slab  on  the  bank 
I,.  This  is  an  old  milestone.  On  its  face,  cut  in  deep  letters,  is  the 
inscription,  "  14  miles  to  Plymouth,"  and  on  the  edge  of  it,  "  T.  i." 
About  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  further  on  is  the  head  of  a  cross,  set 
in  its  socket  stone,  also  on  the  L.  of  the  road.  [Crosses,  Chap.  IX.] 
A  little  beyond  this  is  a  small  parish  boundary  stone,  bearing  the  letter 
W  (Whitchurch)  on  one  face,  and  the  letter  T  (Tavistock)  on  the  other. 
The  road  runs  on  to  Warren's  Cross  (see  post)  with  a  branch  by  way  of 
Middle  Moor  to  the  village  of  Whitchurch.] 

Passing  onward  from  the  Square  Seat  we  shortly  cross  the  road 
just  noticed,  and  make  our  way  over  the  middle  of  the  down  by  the 
golf  links.  On  our  R.  is  Middle  Moor,  and  just  beyond  this  we  notice 
the  entrance  to  Holwell,  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Glanvilles.  A  little 
further  on  we  shall  reach  the  cross  mentioned  in  R.  i,  and  which 
stands  on  the  line  of  the  old  Abbots'  WTay  (T.  i).  [Crosses,  Chap. 
IX.]  It  is  placed  within  a  small  circular  enclosure,  the  low  bank  of 
which  is  much  overgrown.  From  its  appearance  it  is  probable  that 
this  cross  is  of  earlier  date  than  the  Abbots'  Way.  On  the  edge  of  the 
down  to  the  R.  are  some  ruined  walls,  which  bear  the  name  of 
Monkeys'  Castle,  but  which  it  is  not  unlikely  is  a  corruption  of  Monks' 
Castle.' 

Just  beyond  this  cross,  that  is,  a  short  distance  E.  of  it,  the  Monks' 
path  forked,  one  branch,  the  Abbots'  Way,  going  straight  on,  and  the 
other,  the  path  through  Sampford  to  Mea'vy  and  Plympton,  diverging 
R.  As  we  advance  towards  the  E.  end  of  the  down  we  have  on  the  R. 
Warren's  Cross,  close  to  a  plantation,  where  the  Tavistock  and  Samp- 
ford  road  crosses  one  coming  up  from  Horrabridge.*  The  latter  runs  L. 
to  the  small  hamlet  of  Penny- come- Quick  (Pen-v-cwm-cuic,  the  head  of 
the  narrow  combe,  or  valley),  and  on  through  Moor  Shop  (R.  i)  to 
Peter  Tavy  (Ex.  8).  This  we  cross  a  little  S.  of  the  thirteenth  mile- 
stone from  Plymouth,  and  descend  to  Quarry  Lane,  which  runs  between 
the  fields  to  the  common  at  Moortown,  f  m.  distant. 

Just  before  reaching  the  down  a  curious  object  may  be  observed 
in  the  wall  on  the  I/.  It  is  a  Blowing  Stone,  one  of  the  kind  formerly 
used  at  the  time  of  summoning  the  venville  tenants,  and  others,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  assist  in  driving  the  moor.  (See  Drift,  in  Terms  section). 

*  [£•  m.  S.  of  Warren's  Cross  is  Plaster  Down,  over  which  the  Horra- 
bridge road  runs  for  about  ij  m.  The  down  adjoins  the  common  on 
which  Sampford  Tor  and  Pu  Tor  are  situated.  (See  Yelvcrton 
District).] 

No  stone  cross  is  to  be  seen  at  Warren's  Cross,  though  it  is  not 
improbable  that  in  the  days  of  the  monks  one  was  erected  there.  But 
we  cannot  determine  this  from  the  name,  which  simply  means  a  cross- 
road. The  point  was  an  important  one,  as  it  was  there  that  the  track 
from  Tavistock  to  Sampford  Spiney  was  crossed  by  the  one  leading 
from  Peter  Tavy  and  Mary  Tavy  to  Buckland. 


4  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 

On  one  side  it  is  concave,  and  the  horn  being  blown  against  this  was 
supposed  to  give  forth  a  louder  sound.  The  stone  has,  of  course,  been 
brought  to  its  present  situation  from  some  lofty  point. 

Near  by  is  Iddymead  Cottage,  formerly  known  as  Rogues'  Roost, 
which  title,  if  report  be  correct,  was  not  inappropriate.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  the  haunt  of  a  band  of  sheep-stealers,  whose  depredations 
caused  the  farmers  in  the  neighbourhood  much  uneasiness.  No  traces 
of  the  animals  stolen  from  the  commons  were  ever  discovered,  but  it 
was  whispered  that  they  were  driven  to  the  Roost,  and  there 
slaughtered  and  cut  up,  the  skins  being  concealed  in  a  cave.  The 
owner  of  the  property  told  me  some  years  ago  that  out  of  curiosity  he 
had  opened  the  so-called  cave,  which  he  found  to  be  merely  a  hollow 
formed  by  some  huge  stones,  but  there  were  no  signs  of  anything 
having  been  buried  there. 

On  the  R.  at  the  end  of  the  lane  is  Langstone,  but  the  name  does 
-  not  owe  its  origin  to  the  former  presence  of  a  menhir,  as  some  visitors 
in  their  antiquarian  zeal  might  perhaps  be  apt  to  imagine.  The 
property  was  formerly  called  Stone,  and  being  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Lang, 
was  referred  to  as  Lang's  Stone.  Instances  of  a  similar  nature  are 
found  in  many  places  round  the  moor.  Moortown  stands  on  the  verge 
of  the  common  on  the  L.  In  Risdon's  time  it  belonged  to  the 
Moringes,  "  a  family  which  anciently  wrote  themselves  De  la  More." 
There  is  a  monument  to  this  family  in  the  church  at  Whitchurch. 
Early  in  the  nineteenth  century  it  was  in  the  possession  of  John  Ridout. 
whose  name  appears  on  an  inscription  on  a  paten  which  he  presented 
to  Sampf ord  Spiney  Church  in  1 8 1 1 .  In  1 846  Moortown  was  the 
property  of  Jonas  Ridout. 

Passing  up  the  hill  in  a  south-easterly  direction  we  reach  Pu  Tor, 
which,  though  not  of  great  elevation,  is  yet  a  conspicuous  object  in 
this  locality.  The  rock  piles  do  not  rise  to  a  great  height  above  the 
turf,  but  are  nevertheless  imposing.  There  are  four  principal  groups, 
each  placed  towards  one  of  the  cardinal  points.  On  the  N.  pile  are 
several  rock  basins,  the  most  perfect  measuring  2ft.  roins.  by  2ft.  2ins.  ; 
it  is  loins,  deep.  This  one  is  furnished  with  a  lip.  Of  the  others  two 
are  in  a  fairly  perfect  state,  but  the  remainder  are  much  worn.  On 
the  W.  pile  there  is  another  basin.  The  view  from  Pu  Tor  is  exceed- 
ingly fine,  much  of  the  moor  being  revealed  on  one  side,  and  a  vast 
extent  of  cultivated  country  on  the  other.  Between  the  S.  and  W. 
piles  the  distant  Channel  and  Mount  Edgcumbe  are  seen,  and  also 
the  confluence  of  the  Tamar  and  the  Tavy,  with  the  Cornish  hills 
beyond.  [Gems,  Chap.  XXI.] 

Near  the  S.  pile  is  a  stone  bearing  the  letters  S.S.P.  It  is  one 
of  several  on  this  common  similarly  inscribed,  and  marking  the  bounds 
of  Sampford  Spiney  parish.  The  moorland  part  of  this  parish,  which 
is  denned  by  these  stones,  runs  up  into  the  common  land  belonging  to 
Whitchurch,  and  for  SOIEC  little  distance  is  but  a  mere  strip.  The 
boundary  lines  then  diverge,  one  running  towards  Vixen  Tor  (see  post} 
and  the  other  nearly  to  the  Windy  Post  (do.)  They  then  converge, 
and  meeting  form  a  figure  resembling  a  lozenge  in  heraldry,  or,  as  one 
may  be  told  in  the  neighbourhood,  like  the  Ace  of  Diamonds,  by  which 
name  this  part  of  the  parish  is  sometimes  referred  to. 

Leaving  Pu  Tor  we  descend  the  hill  with  Pu  Tor  Cottage  on  the 
R.,  our  course  being  S.E.  At  the  lower  corner  of  the  enclosure  we 


3.TAV1STOCK  DISTRICT. 


STb 


WAP&WORTHV 


MOOR 


"TOR 


Mu-u-ggt 


6  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 

strike  a  moorland  road,  and  turning  R.,  then  crossing  another  road, 
and  soon  after,  again  turning  R.,  shall  reach  the  small  settlement  of 
Sampford  Spiney. 

[The  rambler  may  strike  S.  by  W.  from  the  tor  to  Sampford  Tor, 
a  small  pile  rapidly  disappearing  under  the  hand  of  the  quarryman. 
Then  continue  the  same  course  to  the  road  from  Tavistock,  and  turn 
L.  to  the  village.] 

Sampford  Spiney  hardly  deserves  the  name  of  a  village,  consisting, 
as  it  does,  only  of  a  church,  a  school,  an  ancient  manor  house,  now  a 
farm,  and  a  few  dwellings.  These  are  grouped  round  a  green,  on 
which  is  a  fine  old  tree  and  an  ancient  cross  [Crosses,  Chap.  VIII.] 
It  is  a  restful  place,  and  although  some  recent  erections  have  somewhat 
marred  its  primitive  aspect,  it  has  by  no  means  entirely  lost  its  old- 
world  appearance.  The  church  formerly  belonged  to  Plympton 
Priory  (T.  69,  Plympton  District),  the  arms  of  which  religious  house 
may  be  seen  on  the  S.  face  of  the  tower.  They  are  carved  on  a  stone 
at  the  side  of  the  large  window,  two  keys,  crossed.  Crocketted  pin- 
nacles rise  from  the  angles  of  the  tower,  which  is  perpendicular,  as  also 
is  the  nave.  The  chancel  has  been  re-built,  but  retains  its  original 
decorated  style.  In  the  time  of  Henry  II.  the  manor  was  held  by 
Robert  de  Spinet,  and  continued  in  that  family  during  several  descents. 
It  was  afterwards  in  the  possession  of  the  Drakes,  Bidgoods,  and  Halls. 
At  present  it  belongs  to  Captain  Hall-Parlby,  of  Manadon,  near 
Plymouth. 

[Leaving  this  secluded  little  place  by  the  road  running  S.E.  from 
the  green,  we  make  our  way  to  Ward  Bridge  (Ex.  i),  |  m.  distant.  To 
do  this  it  is  only  necessary  that  we  keep  to  the  L.  The  bridge  is 
delightfully  placed  in  the  depths  of  the  Walkhain  Valley,  which  is  here 
thickly  wooded.  It  is  modern,  but  replaces  an  old  structure  that  was 
swept  away  by  a  flood  in  July,  1890.  Below  the  bridge,  on  the 
K.  bank  of  the  river,  is  Woodtown,  the  delightful  residence  of 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Collier.  On  the  L,.  is  Eggworthy,  where  is  a  shooting-box 
belonging  to  Sir  Henry  Lopes. 

Passing  up  the  lane  on  the  further  side  of  the  Walkham  (the  K.), 
we  shall  soon  reach  the  cross  ways  near  Withill  Farm  mentioned  in 
Ex.  i,  and  the  directions  there  given  will  enable  to  rambler  to  make 
his  way  up  the  valley  to  Men  vale  Bridge,  and  to  visit  the  antiquities 
near  it.  The  return  to  Tavistock  from  Merivale  has  already  been 
given  in  R.  i.] 

From  the  green  at  Sampford  Spiney  we  shall  proceed  to  the 
common,  leaving  the  church  R.,  and  make  our  way  across  its  edge, 
with  the  Walkham  Valley  on  the  R.,  by  the  track  already  described 
(T.  1 3 )  to  Vixen  Tor  ;  or  we  may  proceed  to  that  pile  by  way  of  the 
path  leading  to  Vixen  Tor  Farm.  If  we  decide  upon  the  latter  we 
shall  enter  the  gate  at  Hecklake,  which  we  see  R.  just  after  passing 
the  track  branching  off  for  Pu  Tor  Cottage.  Close  to  the  gate  is  one 
of  the  parish  boundary  stones  already  referred  to.  Our  road  now  lies 
along  the  side  of  the  hill,  running  parallel  to  the  track  (T.  13),  but  at 
some  distance  below  it.  Ere  we  have  proceeded  far  we  shall  reach  a 
small  pile  of  rocks,  L.  of  the  way,  the  scene  of  an  adventure  of  one 
Roody  of  Heckwood.  A  short  distance  further  on  we  shall  pass  a 


EXCURSION  7.       VIXEN   TOR.  7 

large  worked  granite  stone,  by  the  roadside,  R.,  which  was  originally 
intended  for  the  Plymouth  Breakwater,  but  was  rejected  on  account 
of  a  flaw,  and  soon  after  shall  come  in  sight  of  Vixen  Tor  Farm,  on 
the  side  of  the  hill  on  which  rises  the  tor  that  gives  name  to  it.  As  it  is 
situated  within  the  farm  enclosures,  it  will  be  better  that  we  pass 
up  by  the  house  and  obtain  permission  to  visit  it. 

(The  scenery  in  this  valley  is  described  in  Gems,  Chap.  XXI.) 
Vixen  Tor  rises  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  turf,  and  is  a 
conspicuous  object  from  many  parts  of  the  commons  surrounding  it. 
On  the  summit  are  three  rock  basins,  one  being  14013.  deep,  another 

Staple 
Tors. 


FROM   WINDY   POST,    LOOKING   N.K. 

gins.,  and  the  third  Sins.  The  resemblance  to  the  Egyptian  Sphinx 
borne  by  this  tor  hap  often  been  noticed.  This  is  particularly  observ- 
able from  the  Merivale  and  Tavistock  road.  This  road  runs  about 
\  m.  N.  of  the  tor,  the  point  where  the  rambler  will  strike  it  in  going 
direct  to  it  being  less  than  4  m.  from  Merivale  Bridge.  Directions  for 
reaching  the  antiquities  from  the  gate  of  Long  Ash  Farm,  which  is  on 
the  side  of  the  hill  above  the  E.  end  of  the  bridge,  are  given  in  Ex.  i . 

[Mis  Tor  is  i£  m.  N.E.  by  N.  of  Merivale  Bridge,  and  can  readily 
be  reached.  It  is  in  full  view.  The  tor  is  noticed  in  Ex.  6.] 

For  the  routes  from  Merivale  to  Tavistock  see  R.  i.     If  the  path 


FROM  BARN  HIU.,  £  M.  NORTH  OF  WINDY  POST 


8  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 

by  Moortown  and  Whitchurch  Down  be  chosen  the  rambler  will  pass 
the  Windy  Post  soon  after  crossing  the  Beckamoor  Combe  Water. 
This  cross,  which  is  about  7  feet  in  height,  stands  on  a  plain  piece  of 
ground  extending  from  Barn  Hill  to  Feather  Tor,  and  is  close  to  the 
latter,  which  is  a  pile  of  small  size.  Its  type  proclaims  it  to  be  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  and  as  it  stands  beside  a  path  which  existed  long 
before  that  time  (T.  i),  it  is  probable  that  it  replaced  an  older  cross. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  IX.] 


Ex.  8. — Pork  Hill,  Cocks'  Tor,  The  Staple  Tors,  Roose  Tor,  Lang- 
stone  Moor  Antiquities,  White  Tor,  Smeardon  Down,  Peter  Tavy  Combe, 
13^  m.  WITH  EXTENSIONS  TO  Walkham  Head,  Cudlipp  Town,  and 
Wapsworthy,  and  RETURN  ROUTES  BY  Hill  Bridge,  Horndon,  and 
Mary  Tavy. 

For  the  first  three  miles  our  way  will  take  us  over  the  Princetown 
road.  We  leave  the  town  by  way  of  Vigo  Bridge,  and  ascending  the 
hill  with  the  grounds  of  Mount  Tavy  L.,  and  avoiding  all  turnings, 
shall,  at  the  distance  of  nearly  two  miles  from  Tavistock,  reach  Moor 
Shop  (R.  i).  Here  we  cross  the  Horrabridge  and  Harford  Bridge  road, 
and  passing  up  Pork  Hill,  shall  soon  find  ourselves  on  the  common. 
We  strike  1,.  over  the  turf  to  Cocks'  Tor  Hill,  which  rises  close  at  hand, 
cr  jssing  on  the  way  the  track  described  in  the  section  dealing  with  the 
old  moor  paths  (T.  15).  At  the  southern  end  of  this  hill,  which  runs 
about  N.  and  S.  for  the  distance  of  \  m.,  are  a  number  of  rock  piles, 
among  which  may  be  seen  a  small  shelter  of  the  kind  formerly  erected 
by  herdsmen  and  shepherds  on  the  tors.  Below  these  piles  a  reave 
runs  E.  and  W.  to  the  head  of  Beckamoor  Combe  (Ex.  7),  and  may 
also  be  seen  again  on  the  side  of  the  hill  near  Roose  Tor.  Between  it 
and  the  rock  piles  is  a  single  hut  circle,  and  other  examples  of  these 
occur  further  W.  near  the  track.  Ascending  the  hill  at  this  point  we 
proceed  northward  to  Cocks'  Tor,  of  which  the  rocks  just  noticed  may 
be  regarded  as  an  outlying  portion.  We  shall  find  it  to  be  of  rather 
large  size,  though  the  blocks  composing  it  are  not  particularly  so.  The 
higher  pile  is  surrounded  by  a  low  vallum  of  stones,  but  for  what 
purpose  it  was  designed  is  not  very  clear,  unless  it  may  have  been 
intended  to  build  a  cairn  round  the  rocks,  as  in  the  case  of  Shell  Top 
(Ex.  34)  and  Linch  Tor  (Ex.  10).  On  the  N.E.  side  is  another  small 
shelter. 

The  view  from  this  commanding  border  height,  which  attains  an 
elevation  of  1,452  feet,  is  very  fine.  Northward,  beyond  White  Tor, 
is  seen  the  ridge  above  the  Rattle  Brook,  from  which  rise  the  rocks  of 
Hare  Tor  and  Great  Links  Tor  ;  across  the  Beckamoor  Dip  eastward 
are  the  Staple  Tors  and  Roose  Tor,  and  further  away  the  great  crown 
of  Mis  Tor.  To  the  south  is  the  common  above  Sampford  Spiney,  with 
Vixen  Tor  and  Pu  Tor.  From  this  the  cultivated  land  stretches  away 
to  the  groves  of  Mount  Edgcumbe,  and  thence,  ranging  westward,  the 
eye  looks  upon  a  diversified  tract  of  country,  backed  by  the  Cornish 
hills.  In  the  valley  at  our  feet,  as  it  were,  is  the  town  of  Tavistock. 

Cocks'  Tor  Hill  is  composed  of  trap  rock,  the  junction  of  this  with 


EXCURSION  8.       COCKS'  TOR    HILL.       STAPLE   TOR.         9 

the  granite  being  in  the  valley  on  the  E.  Its  summit  is  fairly  level, 
and  free  from  heather,  and  except  near  the  tor  the  surface  is  covered 
with  smooth  turf.  At  its  northern  end  are  two  cairns,  and  the  remains 
of  a  stone  row,  and  having  examined  these  we  shall  turn  E.  by  S.  and 
cross  the  shallow  valley  to  Great  Staple  Tor,  which  is  rather  less  than 
i  m.  distant.  (See  post).  On  our  L.  as  we  proceed  is  a  group  of  hut 
circles,  close  to  which  runs  the  path  from  Merivale  to  Peter  Tavy 
(T.  14),  and  which  we  shall  strike  at  its  paved  part  as  we  near  the  tor. 
Here,  too,  we  cross  the  boundary  line  separating  the  common  lands  of 
Peter  Tavy  from,  those  of  Whitchurch,  which  line  runs  up  from  head  of 
Beckamoor  Combe  towards  Roose  Tor.  This  was  once  the  scene  of  a 
quarrel  which  terminated  in  the  manner  usually  associated  in  our 
minds  with  the  slight  misunderstandings  that  occasionally  arise  at 
Donnybrook  Fair.  The  men  of  one  of  the  parishes  named  were  view- 
ing their  bounds,  the  operation  being  watched  by  the  men  of  the  other, 
when  a  dispute  arose  about  a  bondmark.  Heated  arguments  followed, 
but  failed  to  be  convincing,  and  finally  recourse  was  had  to  another 
means  of  settling  the  matter.  But  that  also  failed,  though  it  cannot 
be  said  that  it  was  barren  of  results.  Those  who  returned  home  with 
broken  heads  were  certainly  not  inclined  to  think  so. 

Great  Staple  Tor  is  one  of  four  tors  that  crown  the  ridge  running 
parallel  to  the  Walkham,  and  high  above  its  western  bank.  South- 
ward of  it  are  Mid  Staple  Tor  and  Little  Staple  Tor  ;  northward  is 
Roose  Tor.  The  rocks  of  Great  Staple  Tor  assume  very  fantastic 
shapes,  and  in  some  instances  are  poised  in  such  a  manner  as  to  induce 
the  beholder  to  believe  that  a  very  slight  effort  would  suffice  to  over- 
throw them.  It  is  a  striking  tor  from  whichever  side  it  is  beheld,  but 
becomes  really  impressive  when  closely  approached.  It  consists  of 
several  piles  of  rocks,  with  a  large  area  clothed  with  short  turf  in  the 
centre,  and  an  immense  number  of  scattered  rocks,  that  speak  only 
too  plainly  of  the  havoc  the  forces  of  Nature  have  wrought  on  this 
stupendous  granite  citadel.  There  are  rock  basins  on  the  tor,  and  also 
an  interesting  object  which  has  been  regarded  as  a  tolmen.  It  will  be 
iound  on  the  westernmost  pile,  and  consists  of  an  overhanging  rock,  at 
some  distance  above  the  ground,  the  end  of  which  is  supported  on  a 
lump  of  granite  of  a  roughly  globular  form,  which  rests  upon  the 
extreme  edge  of  another  rock,  and  is  kept  in  position  by  the  first. 
The  object  is  not,  however,  a  true  tolmen,  such  being,  as  the  name 
implies,  a  holed  stone,  but  we  shall,  nevertheless,  be  quite  willing  to 
believe  that  it  was  employed  in  the  mysterious  Druidical  rites — when 
it  is  shown  to  our  satisfaction  that  such  rites  were  ever  practiced  on  the 
moor.  In  the  meantime  all  we  can  say  about  it  is  that  the  stones  are 
certainly  very  curiously  poised,  and  that  it  is  Nature's  handiwork 
alone.  It  is  rather  unfair  on  the  part  of  a  certain  writer  to  make 
Mrs.  Bray  attempt  to  scale  the  chief  pile  of  Great  Staple  Tor,  and 
confess  that  she  was  compelled  to  stop  at  the  third  block  from  the  top, 
when,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  she  has  nowhere  said  that  she  had  even 
visited  the  tor. 

About  ^  m.  due  N.  of  Staple  Tor  is  Roose  Tor,  the  dip  between 
them  being  very  slight.  As  we  make  our  way  thither  over  plain, 
turfy  ground,  we  have  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  moor,  in  which 
Mis  Tor,  across  the  valley  of  the  Walkham,  is  a  conspicuous  feature, 
In  Roose  Tor  we  have  another  very  striking  group  of  rocks.  On  its 


io  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 

northern  side  the  granite  forms  a  solid  buttress  of  considerable  height  ; 
its  other  parts  are  formed  of  huge  blocks.  There  are  a  number  of 
basins  on  the  tor,  and  in  one  example,  which  was  furnished  with  a  lip, 
the  portion  of  the  rock  in  which  the  latter  was  formed  is  broken  off, 
and  lies  in  a  crevice  below  it.  Around  the  tor,  at  some  little  distance 
from  it,  are  a  number  of  upright  stones,  enclosing  it  in  a  circle,  as  it 
were.  These  stones  are  about  4  feet  in  height,  and  are  squarely  cut, 
and  inscribed  with  the  letter  B,  as  also  are  several  similar  stones  which 
the  rambler  may  have  observed  near  the  road  as  he  entered  on  the 
common.  They  mark  the  boundary  of  lands  belonging  to  the  Duke 
of  Bedford.  Close  to  one  of  these  bondstones  on  the  northern  side  of 
the  tor  is  a  rock  having  a  flat  surface  level  with  the  ground,  on  which 
is  engraved  a  small  circle  bisected  by  a  straight  line.  Roose  Tor  is 
not  wanting  in  historical  interest.  The  common  immediately  around 
it  probably  formed  one  of  the  old  predas  to  which  its  name  was 
attached.  I  cannot  find  it  mentioned  at  a  very  early  date,  but  it  is 
referred  to  in  1665  as  the  pasture  of  Rulestorre.*  Probably  this  form 
of  the  name  is  correct,  though  it  is  usually  pronounced  as  I  have  given 
it.  On  the  recent  Ordnance  Map  it  appears  as  Rolls  Tor. 

Northward  of  Roose  Tor  is  Langstone  Moor,  and  over  this  we  shall 
now  make  our  way  to  the  stone  circle  before  referred  to  (Frincetoivn 
District).  This  object  we  may  see  from  the  tor  in  a  N.E.  direction.. 
The  stones  composing  it  lay  prone  upon  the  turf  until  the  year  1894, 
when  they  were  set  up.  Being  a  restoration  this  monument  loses 
something  of  its  interest,  but  it  is  at  the  same  time  a  matter  for  con 
gratulation  that  it  was  not  allowed  to  remain  in  a  ruined  condition. 
There  are  16  stones  in  the  circle,  the  diameter  of  which  is  about  56 
feet.  Three  other  stones,  now  also  set  up,  are  supposed  to  have 
belonged  to  another  circle  standing  outside  the  existing  one,  so  that 
the  monument  consisted  of  two  concentric  circles,  if  such  was  really 
the  case.  Of  this,  however,  I  am  by  no  means  convinced.  Between 
this  circle  and  the  river  are  a  number  of  ruined  huts,  some  of  them. 
being  within  a  pound  of  the  ordinary  character.  Charcoal  and  flint 
have  been  found  in  these. 

[From  this  point  we  may  extend  our  ramble  to  the  Lich  Path 
(T.  1 8),  where  it  crosses  the  Walkham  at  Sandy  Ford  (Ex.  6).  Pro- 
ceeding N.E.  for  nearly  |  m.  we  shall  reach  the  head  of  Deadlake  Well, 
where  the  track  from  Princetown  via  Blackabrook  Head  (T.  12)  passes. 
The  combe  down  which  the  little  Deadlake  runs  is  a  favourite  spot  with 
the  whortleberry  gatherer.  The  water  of  the  tiny  stream  is  said  to 
possess  magic  properties.  Whichever  member  of  a  party  approaching 
it  drinks  of  it  first  will  fincl  a  lover  before  the  year  closes.  From  this 
point  we  follow  the  forest  boundary  line,  which  runs  N.N.E.  over 
Cocks'  Hill  to  White  Barrow,  a  distance  of  about  \  m.  The  Lich 
Path  (T.  1 8)  is  quite  close  to  this  barrow,  and  leads  R.,  to  Sandy  Ford, 
on  the  Walkham.  Before  it  reaches  that  stream  the  road  forks^ 
the  R.  branch  being  the  ancient  way  and  the  L.  one  the  turf  track 
(T.  1 6)  to  Walkham  Head.  In  the  angle  the  remains  of  some  mine 
buildings  will  be  noticed.  From  White  Barrow  the  Lich  Path  ran 

*  In  connection  with  it  the  pastures  of  Crowtorre  and  Claytorre 
are  also  named.  The  latter  is  a  small  tract  near  the  Walkham  below- 
Sandy  Ford,  but  no  tor  exists  there.  (See  Post). 


EXCURSION  8.       LANGSTONE    MOOR.       WEDLAKE.         n 

towards  Bagga  Tor,  the  direction  being  about  N.W.,  but  for  some 
distance  between  these  two  points  it  is  not  clearly  defined,  as  already 
observed  (see  T.  18).  But  if  the  rambler  follows  the  course  indicated, 
making  his  way  towards  the  moor  gate,  with  the  enclosure  of  Longbetor 
L.,  and  those  of  Bagga  Tor  Farm  R.,  he  will  see  the  old  path  again 
near  the  tor.  From  this  moor  gate  the  road  will  lead  him  to  Waps- 
worthy  and  Hill  Bridge  (Ex.  10). 

But  at  White  Barrow  the  rambler  is  also  on  the  Walkham  Head 
track  from  Peter  Tavy  (T.  16),  and  by  this,  the  general  direction  being 
W.S.W.,  he  may  make  his  way  back  to  the  menhir  on  the  western  side 
of  Langstone  Moor,  the  distance  being  i£  m.] 

From  Langstone  Moor  Circle  our  way  will  lead  us  to  the  menhir, 
under  White  Tor  (R.  2),  to  which,  however,  we  must  not  proceed 
direct,  the  ground  about  the  springs  of  the  Peter  Tavy  Brook,  W.N.W., 
being  rather  boggy,  as  already  mentioned  (R.  2).  Our  course  will  be 
N.W.  until,  having  passed  the  source  of  the  stream,  we  can  bear  L.  ta 
the  menhir  which  we  shall  plainly  see.  This  fine  monolith  was  re- 
erected  at  the  same  time  as  the  circle.  It  stands  beside  the  Walkham 
Head  peat  track  (T.  16),  and,  it  may  be  noticed,  is  in  a  direct  line 
between  Great  Links  Tor  (Ex.  12)  and  Peak  Hill,  on  Walkhampton 
Common  (Ex.  39).  From  this  menhir  a  single  stone  row  runs  to  a 
small  pond  about  130  yards  distant,  and  a  little  westward  is  another 
row,  also  single,  and  not  quite  so  long.  The  latter  has  much  the 
appearance  of  an  old  reave.  There  are  some  other  remains  near,  but 
they  are  not  in  a  particularly  good  state  of  preservation. 

As  we  mount  the  slope  towards  White  Tor  (1,529  feet),  which  is 
quite  near  to  these  remains,  we  shall  notice  the  vallum  surrounding 
the  pile,  and  which  renders  it  one  of  the  most  curious  tors  on  the  moor. 
Several  of  the  rock  masses  are  incorporated  in  this  rude  wall,  which, 
on  the  E.  side,  is  in  a  better  state  of  preservation  than  elsewhere. 
Remains  of  hut  foundations  occur  within  it,  and  a  number  of  flint 
chips  have  been  found  among  these,  and  around  the  tor.  This  circum- 
vallation  differs  from  the  ordinary  hut  pounds,  and  seems  to  have  been, 
constructed  for  defensive  purposes. 

Descending  the  side  of  White  Tor,  in  a  direction  S.  by  W.,  we 
cross  the  grassy  path  leading  to  Walkham  Head,  and  when  about  J  m. 
from  the  tor,  and  near  to  the  Peter  Tavy  Brook  and  the  enclosures  of 
Wedlake  Farm,  shall  come  upon  a  group  of  hut  circles.  These  lie 
along  the  banks  of  a  tiny  rivulet  running  into  the  brook  named,  and 
the  remains  of  walls  seem  to  show  that  they  were  once  in  enclosures  ;. 
indeed,  there  is  one  of  these  in  a  fairly  perfect  state,  containing  two 
huts.  This  settlement  was  explored  in  1904,  and  charcoal,  pottery, 
flint  flakes,  and  cooking- stones  were  found.  Eastward  is  a  reave 
running  up  to  White  Tor. 

[South-west  of  Wedlake  Farm,  and  close  to  the  wall,  is  a  large  hut 
settlement,  but  this  is  best  visited  from  Cocks'  Tor  Hill  or  Roose  Tor 
(see  ante).  The  Peter  Tavy  Brook  is  sometimes  known  as  Wed  Lake.] 

Retracing  our  steps  northward  to  the  peat  track  (T.  16),  we  turn 
L.,  shortly  afterwards  reaching  a  mound  close  beside  it.  This  is 
known  as  Stephens'  Grave,  and  marks  the  site  where  a  suicide  was 
buried  with  the  barbarous  rites  once  customary.  George  Stephens 
was  a  youth  of  Peter  Tavy,  and  was  driven  to  take  his  life  by  the 
unfaithfulness  of  the  girl  to  whom  he  was  betrothed.  It  is  said  that 


12  T A VI STOCK    DISTRICT. 

at  the  moment  he  was  laid  here  some  linen  that  was  hanging  out  to 
bleach  at  Higher  Godsworthy  was  caught  up  into  the  air  and  never 
more  seen.  As  we  proceed  we  shall  notice  two  rocks  on  the  common 
L.  ;  these  are  known  at  Setters,  and  are  composed  of  trap  of  a  brownish 
•colour.  It  is  in  layers,  and  there  are  many  loose  pieces  lying  on  and 
around  the  masses.  Less  than  V  m.  from  Stephens'  Grave  we  enter 
"Twyste  Lane  (T.  16),  and  passing  through  it  shall  find  ourselves  close 
to  Boulter's  Tor  on  Smeardon,  or  Smearn,  Down. 

From  this  point  we  may  make  our  way  to  Peter  Tavy  direct, 
either  by  proceeding  over  the  down  westward,  or  descending  to  Peter 
Tavy  Combe,  and  turning  down  the  valley,  R  ;  or  we  may  lengthen 
our  walk  by  going  round  by  Cudlipp  Town.  If  we  choose  the  former 
we  shall  pass  along  the  rocky  summit  of  the  ridge,  an  extensive  pano- 
rama of  field  and  woodland,  moor  and  distant  hill,  being  spread  before 
us.  Close  to  the  highest  crag  is  a  small  poundlike  enclosure,  and  some 
faint  vestiges  of  reaves.  At  the  W.  of  the  ridge  (on  the  N.  side  of 
which  is  the  enclosure  known  as  Black  Shells)  we  descend  to  a  gate 
close  to  an  old  sandpit,  from  which  a  short  lane  leads  to  the  road  near 
the  church.  On  reaching  this  we  turn  L.  to  the  village. 

Peter  Tavy  Combe  is  situated  to  the  S.  of  Smeardon  Down.  We 
cross  the  road  below  Boulter's  Tor,  and  in  a  corner  of  the  common 
come  upon  a  footpath  running  through  some  enclosures.  Turning  R. 
we  follow  it  for  a  short  distance,  when  we  shall  find  ourselves  on  the  N. 
side  of  the  combe,  just  above  Little  Combe  Tor.  Great  Combe  Tor 
rises  on  the  other  side  of  this  little  valley,  and  beyond  it  is  Cocks'  Tor 
Hill.  The  tor  seen  between  the  two  is  locally  known  as  Sharp  Tor. 
Peter  Tavy  Combe  is  a  charming  spot,  to  which  clings  more  than  one 
story  of  the  pixies.  The  Peter  Tavy  Brook  runs  through  it,  and  is 
•crossed  near  the  lower  end  of  the  combe  by  a  clam.  Here  the  path 
between  the  village  and  Merivale  (T.  14)  crosses  the  stream,  and  is 
seen  ascending  the  hill  towards  Great  Combe  Tor.  It  there  passes 
through  some  enclosures  and  reaches  the  common  just  above.  Near 
the  clam  a  path  runs  up  by  South  Ditch  to  Smeardon  Down,  but  we 
follow  one  that  takes  us  down  the  valley  along  the  bank  of  a  mill 
stream,  which  will  lead  us  past  Peter  Tavy  Mill,  a  very  picturesque 
building,  to  the  village.  [Gems,  Chap.  XXII.] 

Should  we  decide  to  go  round  by  Cudlipp  Town  from  Boulter's  Tor, 
we  turn  N.E.,  and  in  the  corner  of  the  common  shall  find  a  narrow 
path,  which  will  lead  us  to  Broad  Moor,  with  Twyste,  one  of  the  ancient 
vills,  on  our  R.  We  descend  the  hill,  with  the  enclosures  on  our 
L.,  and  the  farm  of  Broadmoor  a  short  distance  R.  (T.  17).  At  the 
point  where  we  enter  on  the  lane  is  a  small  clapper.  As  we  proceed  we 
shall  notice  the  old  manor  pound  on  the  R.,  shortly  after  passing  which 
we  reach  the  road  from  Wapsworthy  (R.)  to  Peter  Tavy  village  (L.) 
The  manor  of  Cudlipp  Town,  which  is  also  an  ancient  vill,  was,  previous 
to  the  Reform  Bill  of  1832,  in  the  parish  of  Tavistock,  but  was  then 
transferred  to  Peter  Tavy.  Owing  to  this  arrangement  the  new 
franchise  was  not  extended  to  the  tenants  of  the  manor,  and  even  the 
owner,  notwithstanding  that  the  matter  formed  the  subject  of  Parlia- 
mentary debate,  knew  nothing  of  what  was  going  on.  In  Domesday 
Cudlipp  Town  appears  as  Culitone,  and  in  a  forester's  account  rendered 
in  1 502  as  Chodlype,  the  fine,  or  rent,  of  the  vill  being  set  down  as  $d. 
Cudlipp  occurs  as  a  family  name  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  manor 


EXCURSION  8.     EXTENSION  FROM  PETER  TAVY.  13 

house,  now  rebuilt,  is  situated  on  the  W.  side  of  the  road.  The  distance 
from  Cudlipp  Town  to  Peter  Tavy  village  is  i  m.  The  latter  is  a  quiet 
little  place,  with  a  church  embosomed  in  trees,  a  chapel,  a  school,  and 
a  small  inn.  A  cross  formerly  stood  near  the  churchyard  gate,  but  has 
now  disappeared.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XI.]  The  Peter  Tavy  Brook  runs 
through  the  village  and  falls  into  the  Tavy  just  below. 

For  Walkham  Head  direct  see  Track  16. 

Tavistock  is  about  3  m.  from  Peter  Tavy.  The  way  lies  along  the 
road  S.,  and  then  R.  to  Harford  Bridge,  where  the  Tavy  is  crossed. 
Soon  after  this  the  highway  is  reached  exactly  2  m.  from  Tavistock, 
for  which  turn  L. 

[EXTENSION  FROM  Peter  Tavy  to  Wapsworthy,  Hill  Bridge,  and 
Horndon. 

Passing  up  the  road  N.,  with  the  church  on  the  L.,  we  make  our 
way  through  Cudlipp  Town  (i  m.)  A  short  distance  beyond  this  is 
a  turning  L.  This  leads  down  to  Horndon  Bridge,  the  hamlet  from 
which  the  structure  takes  its  name  being  high  above  the  W.  bank  of 
the  Tavy  (see  post).  Rather  over  \  m.  further  on  is  another  turning  L. 
This  is  Church  Lane  (R.  2),  and  is  the  approach  to  Hill  Bridge.  Waps- 
worthy, which  is  noticed  in  Ex.  10,  is  reached  by  continuing  straight 
on,  and  is  about  £  m.  distant.  Should  the  visitor  extend  his  walk  to 
that  place  he  may  reach  Hill  Bridge  by  a  path  across  some  fields, 
instead  of  retracing  his  steps  to  the  point  he  has  now  reached.  To  do 
this  he  will  cross  Wapsworthy  Bridge  and  enter  at  the  first  gate  on  the 
L.,  and  descend  to  the  Tavy  with  the  WTapsworthy  Brook  also  on  that 
hand.  Hill  Bridge,  which  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  picturesque 
surroundings,  though  of  comparatively  modern  erection,  yet  exhibits  a 
primitive  appearance.  There  are  three  openings,  the  centre  one  only 
being  arched  ;  the  others  are  formed  of  slabs  of  granite  laid  from  buttress 
to  pier.  The  parapets  are  very  low.  WThen  Miss  Rachel  Evans  wrote, 
in  1846,  there  was  no  arch,  and  the  bridge  consisted  of  four  openings. 
But  even  that  she  supposes  to  have  taken  the  place  of  an  older  one.* 
(Ex.  10).  Crossing  the  bridge  we  shall  pass  up  the  lane  for  a  short 
distance  and  enter  a  gate,  inside  which  is  a  schoolhouse,  L.,  just  where 
the  road  bends  R.  Making  our  way  upward  through  a  field,  with  Chilly 
Wood  across  the  brook  I,.,  we  reach  Lower  Town,  and  passing  through 
the  farm  yard,  enter  upon  a  very  narrow  lane,  and  keeping  L.  shall  soon 
find  ourselves  on  Zoar  Down.  This  piece  of  common  is  plentifully 
strewn  with  rocks,  said  to  have  been  placed  there  by  the  pixies.  Bear- 
ing L.  near  Higher  and  Lower  Creason  Farms,  we  speedily  arrive  at  the 
hamlet  of  Zoaf,  consisting  of  a  few  cottages  by  the  side  of  the  road 
running  from  Mary  Tavy  to  Lane  End  (Ex.  9).  Here  we  see  the  higher 
part  of  the  down,  and  may  observe  a  large  mass  of  rock  near  the  well 
of  an  enclosure.  This  is  known  as  the  Master  Rock,  and  here  Billy 
Bray,  the  celebrated  Cornish  preacher,  was  wont  to  hold  open  air 
services  during  his  visit  to  this  neighbourhood.  Turning  L.  by  the 
hamlet  we  follow  the  road  across  Black  Lion  Down,  where  is  a  small 
chapel,  to  Horndon.  Here  a  road  runs  down  L.  to  Horndon  Bridge, 
before  alluded  to,  skirting  a  small  down  known  as  Common  Wood, 
But  our  way  lies  straight  on  past  the  New  Inn,  i  m.  beyond  which  we 

*Home  Scenes  ;  or,  Tavistock  and  its  Vicinity.     By  Rachel  Evans. 


T4  TAVI8TOCK    DISTRICT. 

shall  reach  the  village  of  Mary  Tavy.  Turning  L.  we  pass  the  school, 
and  presently  arrive  at  the  church.  Immediately  within  the  gate  of 
the  churchyard  is  an  ancient  cross.  Continuing  our  way,  and  keeping 
L.,  we  arrive  at  Mary  Tavy  Clam,  in  the  midst  of  what  was  once  very 
fine  scenery,  but  which  of  late  years  has  been  sadly  marred  by  the 
starting  of  a  mine.  Between  this  clam  and  Horndon  Bridge  are  some 
fine  crags.  One  of  these  we  may  see  as  we  look  up  the  stream.  This 
is  High  Tor,  the  others  being  Fox  Tor  and  Brimhill  Tor.  Further  up, 
above  the  bridge  named,  is  another  range  of  crags,  the  principal  pile 
being  known  as  Renter  Tor.  Crossing  the  Tavy  we  follow  the  bridle 
path,  with  the  beautiful  Longtimber  Tor  on  the  R.  This  stands  near 
the  brink  of  the  river,  and  consists  of  a  square  mass  of  rock  rising  to  a 
considerable  height.  It  is  draped  with  creeping  plants,  and  bears  no 
slight  resemblance  to  the  keep  of  a  ruined  castle.  Here  we  pass  through 
a  gate  into  a  narrow  lane,  which  will  lead  us  to  Peter  Tavy  village.] 

Among  early  references  to  Peter  Tavy  is  one  on  the  Court  Rolls 
of  the  Manor  of  Lydford,  respecting  a  suit  between  Roger  atte  Torre 
and  Reginald  Cole,  in  the  fourteenth  of  Henry  IV.     The  matter  in 
dispute  was  a  trespass  in  a  close  in  the  parish.     The  venville  rent  in 
the  time  of  Henry  VII.  was  the  same  as  Cudlipp  Town,  5d.,  and  in  the 
«ntry  in  the  Forester's  Account  recording  this  the  place  figures  as 
Peturspavy.     In  the  ninth  of  James  I.,   1611,   Roger  Mannaford,   of 
Petertavy,   together  with  several  others,   among  whom  was  Gregory 
Newman,    the   vicar   of   Walkhampton,    was   proceeded     against    by 
William  Hunt,  the  rector  of  Lydford,  for  tithes  of  the  agistment  of 
sheep  on  Dartmoor  and  the  Commons  of  Devon,  the  latter  being  the 
"broad  belt  of  moorland  that  surrounds  the  Forest.     (See  Terms  Section, 
Part  V.)     The  defendants  denied  their  liability.     Over  half  a  century 
later  Andrew  Gove,  the  rector  of  Peter  Tavy,  was  in  dispute  with  some 
Tavistock  men,  the  former  making  a  claim  somewhat  similar  to  that 
which  had  been  put  forward  by  the  rector  of  Lydford.     Gove  brought 
a  suit  against  the  persons  referred  to  for  tithes  of  the  pastures  of  Crow 
Tor,  Clay  Tor,  and  Rules,  or  Roose,  Tor,  and  they  in  turn  filed  a  bill 
praying  for  a  prohibition  of  the  suit.     They  affirmed  that  they  paid  to 
the  King  certain  rents,  and  performed  certain  duties  and  services,  and 
were  in  return  entitled  to  privileges  in  the  Forest  of  Dartmoor,  which,  as 
they  say,   lies  within  the  parish  of  Lydford.     "  But,"    they    state, 
"  Andrew  Gove,  of  Petertavy,  clerk,  out  of  a  greedy  aim  and  desire 
to  wrest  and  distort  from  your  orators  tithes,  asserts  that  a  part  of  the 
Forest,  &c.,  called  Crowtorre,  Claytorre,  and  Rulestorre  are  within  the 
parish  of  Petertavy,  and  that  he  ought  to  have  the  tithe  of  the  cattle 
and  pasture  there."     No  answer  has  been  found  to  these  suits,  and  it 
is  probable  the  claims  for  tithe  were  dropped.     As  certain  defendants 
in  a  case  of  the  date  1699  maintained,  "  No  Forest  man,  venville  man, 
or  countryman  ever  paid  tithes,  which  are  compounded  for  at  £3  a 
year."     This  tithe  of  the  herbage  of  Dartmoor  was  granted  by  Henry 
III.  "  to  God  and  the  Church  of  St.  Petroc  at  Lydford,  and  the  chaplain 
ministering  in  the  same  Church,  whosoever  for  the  time  being  shall  be 
chaplain  there,  for  his  maintenance." 


16  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 


Ex.  9.— Black  Down,  Snap,  Black  Hill,  Gibbet  Hill,  Iron  Gate, 
1 3^  m.  WITH  BRANCH  TO  Lane  End,  AND  EXTENSION  TO  Brent  Tor. 

[Black  Down  may  be  reached  by  G.W.R.  to  Mary  Tavy,  and  by 
S.W.R.  to  Brent  Tor.  In  the  former  case  the  rambler  will  pass  up  the 
road  to  the  post  office  (see  post),  and  in  the  latter  he  will  find  himself 
on  the  down  when  he  gets  outside  the  station.  To  reach  the  Ashburys 
(see  post)  he  will  then  pass  up  the  hill  for  a  short  distance  and  take 
the  green  track  L.  Keep  straight  on  when  it  is  crossed  by  another, 
and  passing  the  enclosures  of  Higher  Spring  R.  follow  the  path  where 
it  bends  L-,  and  which  leads  direct  to  the  road  that  comes  up  from 
Black  Down  village.] 

Rather  over  4  m.  from  Tavistock  the  Okehampton  and  Exeter 
highway  enters  upon  a  part  of  Dartmoor  known  as  Black  Down,  and  to 
this  we  shall  now  make  our  way.  Shortly  after  leaving  the  town  we 
pass  the  Kelly  College,  L.  of  the  road,  and  £  m.  beyond  it  cross  the 
Walla  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Tavy.  This  comes  down  through  the 
valley  near  the  head  of  which  Kilworthy  is  situated,  passing,  not  long 
before  we  meet  it,  Indiscombe,  the  Ina's  Combe  of  William  Browne. 
This  pastoral  poet,  who  has  been  not  inaptly  called  the  bard  of  the 
Tavy,  was  born  in  Tavistock  about  the  year  1590.  Many  of  his 
descriptions  of  places  are  remarkable  for  their  fidelity  and  beauty. 
Below  Indiscombe  is  Two  Bridges.* 

Opposite  to  the  second  milestone  at  the  foot  of  Wringworthy  Hill, 
a  road  turns  R.  to  Peter  Tavy  (Ex.  8),  crossing  the  Tavy  close  by  at 
Harford  Bridge.  But  our  way  lies  up  the  long  ascent,  and  across 
Burn  Plain  to  Lane  Head  (3^  m.  from  Tavistock),  where  a  road  turns 
R.  down  the  hill  to  Mary  Tavy  village. 

[This  road  also  runs  on  through  Horndon  to  Lane  End,  and  is 
the  direct  way  to  Tavy  Cleave.  The  visitor  to  the  latter  will  turn  L. 
at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  and  immediately  after  passing  the  school, 
will  turn  into  the  Horndon  road  R.  That  hamlet  will  be  reached  in 
about  i  m.  The  rambler  will  leave  it  R.  and  pass  over  Black  Lion 
Down  to  Zoar.  (Thus  far  the  route  has  been  given  the  reverse  way 
in  Ex.  8).  A  road  runs  straight  over  Zoar  Down  (Ex.  8),  and  this  he 
will  follow.  That  part  of  it  leading  from  the  down  is  known  as  Buddla 
Lane,  and  at  the  end  of  this  another  lane  runs  at  right  angles  to  it ; 
L.  to  Yard  Gate  (see  post,  and  T.  18) ;  R.  to  Hill  Bridge  (Ex.  8)  in 

*  "  Low  in  the  valley  some  small  herds  of  deere. 
For  head  and  footmanship  withouten  peer 
Fed  undisturbed  ;  the  swains  that  thereby  thrived, 
By  the  tradition  from  their  sires  derived, 
Call'd  it  sweet  Ina's  Coombe." 

— Britannia's  Pastorals- 


EXCURSION  9.       BLACK   DOWN.  17 

one  direction,  and  to  Lane  End  in  the  other.  The  rambler  turns  R. 
but  bears  I/,  at  the  first  fork,  which  is  just  below.  This  will  lead  him 
by  a  farm  called  Will,  shortly  after  which  he  will  reach  WiUsworthy 
Bridge,  a  clapper,  but  furnished  with  parapets  (Ex..  10).  Close  to  the 
bridge  is  an  interesting  old  manor  pound,  long  disused.  A  little  be- 
yond this  an  ancient  chapel  formerly  stood,  R.  of  the  road  (100  Years, 
Chap.  IV.),  and  further  on  again  a  road  turns  R.  to  Willsworthy  Farm, 
and  the  ford  on  the  Tavy  (Ex.  10).  About  £  m.  beyond  this  the 
rambler  will  arrive  at  the  moor  gate  at  Lane  End,  directions  for  reaching 
Tavy  Cleave  from  which  point  are  given  in  Ex.  1 1 .] 

Passing  onward  we  soon  reach  the  post-office,  where  a  road 
turns  L.  to  Brent  Tor.  On  the  R.  is  Wheal  Friendship,  and  before 
us  is  the  village  of  Black  Down,  and  through  this  we  make  our  way 
up  the  hill  to  the  common  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  On  nearing 
this  we  pass  the  Ashburys,  as  the  enclosures  on  the  R.  are  called,  and 
which  belong  to  the  farm  of  Holditch.  This  is  now  the  property  of 
Okehampton  feoffees,  and  probably  gave  name  to  a  family  once 
resident  in  that  town,  one  of  which,  Walter  Holditch,  is  mentioned  as 
a  burgess  in  the  fourth  of  Henry  VIII.  A  similar  name  occurs  in  the 
parish  of  Thorncombe,  its  early  form,  according  to  Risdon,  being 
Oldich,  and  which  he  supposes  to  have  been  derived  from  an  ancient 
enclosure. 

qp~ 

[At  the  point  where  we  enter  on  the  common  a  moorland  road 
branches  R.,  and  descending  to  the  Cholwell  Brook,  crosses  it  in  the 
midst  of  the  deserted  workings  of  Wheal  Betsy,  at  one  time,  like  Wheal 
Friendship,  a  mine  of  much  importance.  Near  the  bridge  over  the 
little  stream  is  a  gate,  where  a  path  runs  up  through  Maunder's  Brake 
to  Kingsett  Down,  which  is  seen  just  across  the  valley.  A  plantation, 
known  as  Allaclauns,  abuts  on  the  down,  and  to  the  L.  of  this  a  path, 
skirting  the  latter,  leads  to  Zoar  (Ex.  8),  and  to  the  R.  of  it  another, 
entered  at  a  gate,  runs  across  fields  to  Horndon  (Ex.  8).  By  this  road 
and  path  the  rambler  may  reach  Horndon  Down  Bridge,  hereafter 
noticed.  On  reaching  Kingsett  Down  he  will  strike  I/.,  following  a 
narrow  footpath  to  the  corner  of  Allaclauns  Plantation,  and  thence 
over  the  common  N.  by  E.,  to  the  bridge.] 

Our  way  lies  along  the  high  road,  with  Gibbet  Hill,  noticed  further 
on,  on  the  L.,  and  the  Wheal  Betsy  workings  in  the  valley  R.  Soon 
four  posts  will  be  seen  by  the  roadside,  and  a  few  score  yards  beyond 
these  a  path  runs  up  over  the  shoulder  of  the  hill  L.  This  is  the  Lydf ord 
Path  (T.  23),  described  in  the  section  dealing  with  the  old  tracks,  and 
forms  the  most  direct  way  from  this  part  of  the  down  to  Lydford 
Station.  A  short  distance  beyond  this  there  is  a  long  row  of  stone 
posts  by  the  roadside,  known  locally  at  Annie  Pinkham's  Men,  and 
here  on  the  bank  L.,  and  opposite  to  the  mine  house,  is  the  fifth  mile- 
stone from  Tavistock.  It  also  shows  Okehampton  to  be  10  miles 
distant,  and  Truro,  in  the  other  direction,  56  m.  $  m.  further  on  an 
old  mine  leat  runs  under  the  road  at  Barrett's  Bridge.  This  we  do  not 
cross,  but  turn  R.  and  follow  the  path  that  runs  on  the  edge  of  the 
water  course,  with  Cholwell  Farm  in  the  valley  R.  £  m.  on  we  cross 
a  shallow  gully  known  in  the  locality  as  Goosey  Creep,  beyond  which 

c2 


is  TAVISTOCK    DISTRICT. 

a  path  branches  R.  from  the  watercourse.  This  we  follow,  and  shall 
be  led  to  a  green  track  that  comes  in  L.  from  the  high  road,  and  runs 
on  to  Zoar  Down  (T.  24),  over  a  piece  of  ground  usually  referred  to  as 
Breast-the-Water.  At  the  junction  a  number  of  distant  tors,  among 
them  the  piles  above  Tavy  Cleave,  are  in  sight.  Close  at  hand  is  the 
clapper  known  as  Horndon  Down  Bridge.  This  spans  a  leat  by  which 
water  is  brought  in  from  the  river  at  Tavy  Cleave  to  the  mines.  It 
is  placed  at  the  head  of  a  gully  which  extends  downward  to  the  valley 
in  which  the  Cholwell  Brook  rises.  It  consists  of  three  stones  laid  side 
by  side,  the  road  being  sufficiently  wide  for  a  cart.  The  bed  of 
the  leat  under  the  bridge  is  paved.  N.E.  by  E.  is  Tavy  Cleave,  at  the 
head  of  which  a  small  part  of  Watern  Oke  is  revealed.  This,  and 
Limsboro,  and  Great  Mis  Tor,  are  the  only  portions  of  the  forest  that 
can  be  seen,  although  so  much  of  the  moor  is  visible. 

Following  the  wide  leat  in  an  easterly  direction  we  shall  presently 
reach  the  wall  of  an  enclosure  R.,  and  shall  notice  a  bondstone  on  the 
slope  I/.  This  is  one  of  a  row  marking  the  boundary  line  between  the 
common  lands  of  Mary  Tavy  and  Peter  Tavy.  A  few  score  yards 
further  one  we  cross  the  leat  at  One  Stone  Bridge,  and  make  our  way  a 
short  distance  down  the  hill  known  as  Snap  (Ex.  10),  where  we  have  as 
fine  a  picture  as  can  be  found  in  any  part  of  the  moorland  borders.  To 
the  L.  is  White  Hill  (Ex.  1 1 ),  over  the  crest  of  which  is  seen  Bra  Tor 
(Ex.  ii)  with  its  cross.  Great  Links  Tor  (Ex.  12)  stands  up  boldly 
against  the  sky,  with  the  farm  of  Redford  (Ex.  1 1 ) — locally  Ruddi- 
ver — under  it  R.,  but  much  nearer  to  us.  Then  on  the  skyline  is  seen 
Sharp  Tor  (Ex.  11 )  with  the  conical  Hare  Tor  (Ex.  n)  to  the  R.  of  it. 
To  the  R.  of  that  Ger  Tor  and  the  Tavy  Cleave  Tors  (Ex.  n).  The 
fine  hill  to  the  R.  of  the  cleave  is  Standon  ;  at  its  foot  is  the  farm  of 
the  same  name.  R.  of  this  farm  is  Bagga  Tor,  where  also  is  a  farm 
called  after  the  eminence,  and  beyond  it  the  range  on  which  is  Linch 
Tor  (Ex.  10)  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Walkham,  which  rises  E.N.E. 
of  it.  Here  we  look  down  upon  the  farms  formed  by  the  ancient 
settlers  who  forced  their  way  into  this  valley,  and  among  others  that 
may  be  seen  are  Nat  Tor,  Lane  End,  Willsworthy,  Brouzen  Tor,  Long- 
betor,  Will,  Hill  Town,  and  the  farms  at  Wapsworthy.  If  we  proceed 
a  few  yards  further  in  a  northerly  direction  we  look  down  upon  Yellow- 
mead  Farm. 

In  the  corner  of  the  down  just  below  us  R.  is  a  gateway,  where 
a  track  passes  across  an  enclosure  to  Yard  Gate.  This  is  the  track 
already  described  as  running  from  Hill  Bridge  to  Lydford  (T.  18,  25). 
One  of  the  granite  posts  of  Yard  Gate  bears  some  ancient  markings, 
and  from  a  supposed  resemblance  of  the  figures  to  star),  it  is  some- 
times called  by  the  country  people  Seven  Star  Gate  (Ex.  10). 

Retracing  our  steps  we  cross  the  leat  and  make  our  way  up  the 
slope  to  the  bondstone,  and  follow  the  line  on  which  it  is  placed,  our 
direction  being  N.N.W.  Shortly  we  shall  reach  Down  Pool  and  Tin 
Pits,  and  passing  these  shall  be  led  to  the  Dartmoor  Path  (T.  21), 
where  it  runs  over  Black  Hill.  On  the  further  side  of  this  is  the  object 
known  as  the  Ring  o'  Bells.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  small  pound, 
the  encircling  bank  being  formed  of  turf  and  stone.  It  may  perhaps 
mark  the  site  of  a  cairn  from  which  the  stones  have  been  removed. 
There  are  a  number  of  such  on  this  down.  Regaining  the  track  we 
turn  towards  the  W  S.W.,  and  follow  it  to  the  highway,  where  we 


EXCURSION  9.       GIBBET    HILL. 


shall  leave  it,  and  proceeding  a  short  distance  along  the  road  I,.,  shall 
in  turn  leave  that  and  strike  across  the  common  to  Gibbet  Hill,  which 
is  Jin  full  view  before  us. 

Sourton 
Tors. 


Noddon.  Anns       Bra  Doe 

N.E.  byN  Tor.        Tor.  Tor. 

FROM   GIBBET   HIM,. 

From  this  fine  eminence  we  see  nearly  the  whole  of  Black 
Down.  This  down  is  mostly  in  Mary  Tavy,  a  parish  which  does 
not  lie  in  venville.  Its  extreme  length  from  the  Burn  stream  in 
Smallacombe  Bottom,  on  the  S.,  to  the  enclosures  of  Bear  Walls, 
under  White  Hill,  on  the  N.,  is  about  3^  m.,  and  its  width 
about  ij  m.,  though  in  one  part  it  is  £  m.  more  than  that.  Gibbet 


Hare  Tor. 


Black  Bidge. 


Fur  Tor. 


Ger  Tor.        Tavy  Cleave. 
FROM   GIBBET   HII,!,. 

attains  an  elevation  of  1159  feet,  and  on  its  summit  is  a  quarry  in 
which  is  a  pool  of  water.  The  hill  obtains  its  name  from  the  hideous 
object  said  once  to  have  been  erected  here.  The  road  over  the  down, 
which  was  the  direct  route  from  New  Bridge  on  the  Tamar  to  Exeter, 
had  the  evil  reputation  of  being  infested  with  highwaymen,  and  this 
hill  being  in  view  from  it,  and,  indeed,  from  the  surrounding  country, 
was  deemed  a  fitting  place  on  which  to  expose  the  bodies  of  malefactors 
who  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  law.  There  are  many  traditions 
and  stories  concerning  the  spot  [100  Years,  Chap.  II.],  and  there  are 


20  TAVI8TOCK    DISTRICT. 

those  now  living  in  the  parish  whose  fathers  remembered  when  a  tall 
post  was  fixed  on  the  summit  of  the  hill. 


FROM   GIBBET  HIU,. 

Remains  of  mining  operations  occur  on  the  side  of  the  hill.  It 
was  to  these  workings  that  the  water  was  brought  in  the  leat  we 
have  noticed  at  Barrett's  Bridge.  After  being  used  it  was  suffered 
to  run  into  a  deep  channel  known  as  the  Gurgy  (gurges,  a  whirlpool), 
and  was  by  means  of  this  carried  to  the  CholweU  Brook,  and  so  returned 
to  the  Tavy.  It  now  furnishes  power  to  Wheal  Jewel.  The  old  track 
over  the  down,  the  forerunner  of  the  present  road,  seems  to  have  been 
utilized  by  the  miners,  since  part  of  the  Gurgy  is  formed  upon  it.  This 
track  we  have  alreadv  noticed  (T.  26). 

North 

White  Mis  Hisworthy 

Cocks  Hill.  Tor.  Tor.  Tor. 


FROM   GIBBET  HII,!,. 

The  chief  interest  of  Gibbet  Hill  is  the  wonderful  picture  seen  from 
its  summit.  Eastward  is  a  wide  view  of  the  moor  from  the  Sourton 
Tors  N.  to  Dewer  Stone  Hill  S.,  one  part  of  which,  that  extending  from 
Sourton  to  Hare  Tor,  is  the  finest  range  in  the  Dartmoor  country. 
Some  of  the  grandest  tors  of  the  moor  are  here  visible,  including  Fur 
Tor,  Great  Mis  Tor,  White  Tor,  and  the  Staple  Tors.  Roborough 
Down,  and  beyond  it  Mount  Edgcumbe,  with  the  Channel,  are  in  view. 
Across  the  valley  W.  by  S.  is  Brent  Tor,  with  its  little  church,  and 


EXCURSION  9.       BRENT  TOR. 


21 


further  away  the  Cornish  eminences  of  Kit  Hill,  Brown  Willy,  and  Row 
Tor,    besides   many   other    prominent   heights.     A    wide    expanse   of 
diversified  country  is  seen,  embracing  a  great  part  of  West  and  North 
West  Devon,  and  much  of  the  country  beyond  the  Tamar. 


FROM   GIBBET  HILL. 


S.E.  by  8. 


leaving  Gibbet  Hill  we  descend  to  the  road  near  Higher  Spring, 
by  which  name  some  enclosures  and  cottages  on  the  down  are  known, 
our  direction  being  S.W.  On  reaching  the  road,  with  Higher  Spring 
on  our  L.,  we  have  Smallacombe  Bottom  below  us,  and  on  the  further 
side  of  the  valley  the  hill  that  extends  to  Heathfield,  on  the  Tavistock 
and  Brent  Tor  road.  Now  we  turn  I,.,  and  passing  through  Iron  Gate 
(but  a  wooden  one,  nevertheless),  shall  soon  reach  the  Mary  Tavy 
Post  Office  and  the  high  road  to  Tavistock. 

[EXTENSION  TO  BRENT  TOR.  About  ^  m.  eastward  of  the  summit 
of  Gibbet  Hill  is  the  Dartmoor  Path  (T.  21),  and  to  this  we  make  our 
way.  On  reaching  it  we  turn  L.,  and  a  short  distance  on  turn  abruptly 
R.  and  follow  it  down  the  hill  past  the  school  to  the  road  near  the 
railway  station,  i  m.,  where  we  shall  cross  the  Burn  and  proceed  to 
the  village  of  Brent  Tor.  The  people  living  in  this  neighbourhood 
were  formerly  known  as  Lamerton  Outer  Downs.  Until  the  year 
1882  much  land  now  included  in  the  parish  of  Brent  Tor  belonged 
to  the  parish  of  Lamerton,  and  the  name  was  used  to  distinguish  those 
parishioners  who  lived  so  far  from  their  village  and  on  the  edge  of  Black 
Down.  At  the  present  time  the  dwellers  in  the  Burn  Valley,  although 
in  Mary  Tavy  parish,  are  ecclesiastically  in  that  of  Brent  Tor,  and  are 
still  sometimes  referred  to  by  the  Mary  Tavy  villagers  as  Outer  Downs. 
But  the  valley  dwellers  retaliate  by  speaking  of  the  Mary  Tavy  men 
as  Over  Downs.  The  village,  and  that  part  of  the  parish  around  it,  is 
usually  known  as  North  Brent  Tor,  the  original  parish,  of  which  the 
church  on  the  hill  is  the  centre,  now  being  called  South  Brent  Tor. 
The  church,  formerly  a  chapel-of-ease  to  Lamerton,  was  built  in  1857. 
Passing  through  the  village,  and  bearing  L.,  we  soon  reach  the 
Tavistock  and  Lydford  road  at  Batten's  Corner.  Here  we  turn  L. 
to  the  tor,  passing  the  Herring  Arms  on  our  way.  £  m.  beyond  this  a 
gate  gives  access  to  the  down,  but  if  we  wish  to  see  the  interior  of  the 


22  TAVI8TOCK    DISTRICT. 

church,  it  will  be  necessary  to  apply  to  the  caretaker  at  Stag's  Head 
Farm,  just  opposite  to  the  gate. 

Brent  Tor  is  of  a  conical  shape,  and  forms  a  conspicuous  landmark 
for  many  miles  around.  The  hill  has  been  fortified,  the  vallum  of  turf 
being  still  in  a  very  good  state  of  preservation.  It  is  considered  to  be 
volcanic  in  its  origin,  and  a  suggestion  has  been  made  that  to  this 
circumstance  it  owes  its  name.  Brent  Tor  is  supposed  to  mean  the 
burnt  Tor,  the  word  being  the  past  participle  of  the  Saxon  verb  brennan, 
to  burn.  But  it  is  obvious  that  this  cannot  be  its  true  source,  for 
all  signs  such  as  the  Saxons  would  be  likely  to  recognize  of  the  hill 
having  been  burnt  must  have  disappeared  long  before  their  arrival,  or 
before  that  of  earlier  settlers  who  may  be  supposed  to  have  given  to 
the  hill  a  name  equivalent  to  that  under  consideration.  Another 
suggestion  is  that  its  name  has  reference  to  the  beacon  fires  which  it 
is  thought  were  once  lighted  on  this  prominent  height.  This  derivation 
seems  the  more  probable  one,  but  if  it  be  correct  we  are  forced  to  the 
conclusion  that  this  merely  superseded  an  older  name,  since  it  is  impos- 
sible to  believe  that  such  a  stnking  object  as  the  tor  did  not  possess  one 
in  the  earliest  times.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  name  is  derived 
from  the  Celtic  bryn,  which  means  a  hill,  or  mount.  In  the  Cymric- 
Celtic  twr  (pronounced  toor,  the  w  being  equivalent  to  oo),  signifies  a 
heap,  or  pile,  so  that  the  rocks  on  the  crest  of  the  height  would  be  well 
described  as  bryn  twr,  or  hill  frag,  and  this  name  probably  became 
attached  to  the  settlement,  on  or  below  the  tor.  That  there  was  a 
settlement  of  some  kind  is  evident  from  the  circumstance  of  the  hill 
haying  been  fortified.  It  is  very  likely  that  the  name  is  also  seen  in 
Brinsabach,  a  farm  on  the  further  side  of  a  combe  to  the  S.  of  the  tor. 
Back,  is  a  Celtic  word  signifying  little,  and  bryn  bach  would  therefore 
mean  the  little  hill.  The  natives  usually  speak  of  the  hill  and  the 
parish  as  "  Brin  Tar." 

Several  traditions  of  the  kind  usually  found  in  connection  with 
buildings  placed  in  curious  situations  attach  to  the  church  on  this 
hill.  One  says  it  was  intended  to  build  it  at  the  foot  of  the  tor,  but 
the  Evil  One  came  continually  by  night  and  carried  the  stones  that 
the  builders  had  placed  during  the  day  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  hill 
to  its  crest.  At  length  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  let  Satan  have  his 
way,  and  the  church  was  erected  on  the  site  he  had  chosen  for  it — with 
the  intention,  perhaps,  of  rendering  it  not  easily  accessible.  It  is  also 
related  that  the  church  was  built  in  fulfilment  of  a  vow,  made  by  a 
merchant  at  sea,  and  that  it  really  is  a  votive  church  is  not  unlikely. 
The  fact  that  it  seems  to  have  been  built  by  the  monks  of  Tavistock 
Abbey  does  not  preclude  this  view.  Mr.  James  Hine,  the  well-known 
ecclesiastical  architectural  authority,  states  that  the  greater  part  of 
the  building  is  of  contemporary  date  with  the  earliest  remains  of 
Tavistock  Abbey  that  at  present  exist,  namely,  the  portion  of  the 
cloister  arcading  in  the  churchyard.  Brent  Tor  Church  was  dedicated 
to  St.  Michael  by  Bishop  Stapeldon  on  the  4th  December,  1319,  the 
name  of  the  parish  appearing  on  the  deed  at  Brente  Torre.  But  that 
a  church  existed  there  before  that  date  is  clear  from  a  mention  of  it 
in  a  deed  of  Bishop  Bronescombe,  of  the  year  1269.  The  walls  are 
very  low,  are  furnished  with  a  battlemented  parapet,  and  are  about 
three  feet  thick.  The  tower  is  forty  feet  high,  and  now  contains  five 
bells,  but  formerly  there  was  only  one.  This  bore  the  inscription 


SHORTER    EXCURSIONS   FROM   TAVISTOCK.  23 

Gattus  vocor  ego,  solus  per  omne  sono.  There  is  an  east  window,  and 
also  two  narrow  early  English  windows.  The  nave  is  only  37  feet 
6  inches  in  length. 

Leaving  this  little  church  we  descend  the  hill  towards  the  S.E., 
where  a  gate  opens  upon  a  lane.  We  turn  L.  and  follow  this  through 
the  few  farms  forming  the  hamlet  of  South  Brent  Tor  to  Wortha  Mill, 
on  the  hill  beyond  which  we  enter  on  Black  Down.  Brinsabach,  to 
which  we  have  alluded,  is  in  the  combe  on  the  further  side  of  the  Burn, 
which  is  crossed  at  the  bend  by  means  of  stones  known  as  Batten's 
Steps.  We  follow  the  road  eastward  to  Iron  Gate,  whence  we  speedily 
reach  the  Tavistock  road.  See  ante.] 

Should  the  rambler  wish  to  return  to  Tavistock  by  the  high  road 
direct  from  Brent  Tor  Church,  he  will  leave  the  down  at  the  gate 
opposite  to  Stag's  Head  Farm,  and  turn  L.,  and  will  also  keep  L. 
where  the  road  forks.  Passing  a  part  of  Heathfield,  most  of  which  is 
now  enclosed,  he  will  reach  Pitland  Corner  in  i£  m.  Tavistock  is 
2  m.  distant. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Tavistock. 
FOR  DESCRIPTION  OF  OBJECTS  REFER  AS  INDICATED. 

S.  Ex.  15. — Whitchurch  Down,  Plaster  Down,  and  Pu  Tor,  7  m. 
Whitchurch  Down  (Ex.  7).  Follow  road  past  Middle  Moor,  and  Mon- 
keys' Castle  to  Warren's  Cross  (Ex.  7).  Turn  neither  R.  nor  L-,  but 
follow  road  S.E.  to  northern  verge  of  Plaster  Down.  Then  bear  L. 
to  the  down  below  Pu  Tor.  Pass  up  over  the  common  to  the  tor. 
Descend  N.W.  to  Moortown,  and  return  to  Whitchurch  Down  by 
Quarry  Lane  (T.  i.,  R.  i). 

S.  Ex.  1 6. — The  Windy  Post,  Beckamoor  Combe,  and  Vixen  Tor, 
8  m.  Over  Whitchurch  Down  and  through  Quarry  Lane,  as  in  Ex.  7. 
Then  bear  a  little  to  the  L.  in  passing  up  over  the  common,  following 
the  cart  tracks  that  will  be  seen  on  the  turf,  to  the  Windy  Post  near 
Feather  Tor.  Barn  Hill  is  L.  Vixen  Tor  is  now  in  view,  straight 
ahead.  Descend  into  Beckamoor  Combe,  cross  the  stream  at  the  ford, 
and  pass  upward  to  the  tor.  Thence  N.  to  the  Tavistock  road,  and 
turn  L.  £  m.  on  the  road  passes  across  Beckamoor  Combe,  where  is 
a  large  Streamwork.  The  ruin  seen  a  short  distance  down,  above  the 
R.  bank  of  the  stream,  is  an  old  smithy.  From  this  point  make  across 
to  the  Windy  Post,  and  return  by  Quarry  Lane,  or  follow  the  road 
direct  to  Tavistock  via  Moor  Shop  and  Mount  Tavy  (R.  i.,  Ex.  7). 

S.  Ex.  17. — The  Staple  Tors  and  Merivale,  9^  m.  By  road  as  in 
Ex.  8.  On  reaching  the  moor  continue  on  the  road  past  Beckamoor 
Combe  (S.  Ex.  16),  then  strike  up  over  the  common  L.  to  Little 
Staple  Tor,  which  overlooks  the  road.  Continue  northward  to  Mid 
Staple  Tor,  and  on  to  Great  Staple  Tor  (Ex.  8).  Just  before  reaching 
the  latter  the  path  from  Merivale  to  Peter  Tavy  (T.  14)  is  crossed.  On 
reaching  this  on  returning  from  Great  Staple  Tor,  turn  into  it  L.  to 
Merivale,  which  lies  S.E.  From  Merivale  return  to  Tavistock  as  in 
R.  i. 

The  Merivale  Antiquities  and  Great  Mis  Tor.  Instructions  for 
reaching  these  from  Merivale  are  given  in  Ex.  i.  The  former  are 


24  SHORTER    EXCURSIONS   FROM    TAVISTOCK. 

described  in  Ex.  i ,  and  the  latter  in  Ex.  6.  The  blowing  houses  on  the 
Walkham  are  also  noticed  in  those  excursions.  See  S.  Ex.  5. 

S.  Ex.  1 8.— Peter  Tavy  Combe  and  Cocks'  Tor  Hill,  8|  M.  Oke- 
hampton  road  for  2  m.  (Ex.  9).  Turn  R.  and  cross  Harford  Bridge. 
Bend  L.  for  Peter  Tavy  village.  On  reaching  it  turn  up  by  the  school ; 
then  turn  L.  to  the  mill,  and  follow  the  path  upward  to  the  combe. 
Cross  the  clam  and  climb  the  narrow  path  to  Great  Combe  Tor.  Follow 
path  through  the  enclosures  to  the  commons.  Climb  the  northern 
end  of  Cocks'  Tor  Hill,  cross  it,  and  descend  S.  to  the  Tavistock  road. 
Return  via  Moor  Shop  (R.  i). 

S.  Ex.  19. — Antiquities  on  Langstone  Moor  and  Walkham  Head, 
\2\  m.  To  Peter  Tavy  as  in  S.  Ex.  18.  Pass  the  church  and  turn  in 
lane  R.  Thence  as  described  in  the  Paths'  section,  T.  16,  passing  in 
succession  Boulter's  Tor,  Twyste  Lane,  and  Stephens'  Grave  (Ex.  8). 
J  m.  beyond  this  is  the  Longstone.  The  huts  noticed  in  Ex.  8  are 
reached  by  striking  R.  over  the  common  after  passing  Stephens'  Grave. 
White  Tor  is  visited  from  the  Longstone  (Ex.  8).  The  stone  circle  on 
the  other  side  of  the  down  (Ex.  8)  hes  about  -I-  m.  E.S.E.  of  the  menhir, 
but  the  rambler  must  keep  to  the  L.  of  a  direct  line  to  it,  the  ground 
about  the  springs  of  the  Peter  Tavy  Brook  being  rather  boggy.  The 
way  to  Walkham  Head  from  the  circle  lies  N.E.  along  the  ridge  to  White 
Barrow  (Ex.  8).  From  White  Barrow  the  rambler  makes  his  way  over 
the  Lich  Path  (T.  18)  eastward,  to  the  point  where  the  peat  track 
branches  from  it  L.,  just  below.  Thence  to  Walkham  Head  as  in  T.  16. 
The  return  will  be  by  way  of  this  track  to  Peter  Tavy.  If  the  visitor 
extends  his  ramble  to  Walkham  Head  the  distance  will  be  1 7  m. 

S.  Ex.  20. — Wapsworthy  and  Hill  Bridge,  1 1  m.  To  Peter  Tavy 
as  in  S.  Ex.  18.  Continue  on  road  to  Cudlipp  Town  as  in  Ex.  8,  and 
then  on  to  Wapsworthy  (Ex.  10),  passing  Church  Lane  L.  Cross  the 
bridge  at  Wapsworthy,  enter  gate  on  L.,  and  take  the  path  (as  in  Ex.  8) 
across  the  fields  to  Hill  Bridge.  Return  as  in  Ex.  8. 

S.  Ex.  21. —Mary  Tavy  Clam  via  Peter  Tavy,  7%  m.  To  Peter 
Tavy  as  in  S.  Ex..  18.  Turn  L.  before  reaching  the  church.  Pass 
Peter  Tavy  Inn,  and  take  the  first  gate  R.  Follow  the  bridle  path, 
and  at  the  end  of  it  pass  through  gate  with  Longtimber  Tor  L.  (Ex.  8). 
The  clam  is  just  above  this  (Ex.  8).  Cross  the  clam  and  on  to  Mary 
Tavy  Church.  After  passing  it  take  first  turning  L.  Up  the  hill  to 
Lane  Head.  Turn  L.  for  Tavistock. 

S.  Ex.  22. — Tavy  Cleave,  1 1  m.  Okehampton  road  to  Lane  Head, 
and  thence  to  Lane  End,  as  in  Ex.  9,  passing  through  Horndon,  Zoar, 
and  over  Willsworthy  Bridge  (Ex.  10).  From  Lane  End  to  the  cleave 
as  in  Ex.  1 1.  Via  Brent  Tor  Station,  G.W.R.,  4f  m.  From  the  station 
follow  the  Dartmoor  Path  (T.  21).  On  reaching  the  higher  end  of  the 
Redford  enclosures  keep  on  E.  by  S.,  with  Hare  Tor  high  on  the  L. 
Straight  on  till  the  Tavy  Cleave  Tors  come  in  sight.  The  route  from 
Lydford  Station,  S.W.R.,  is  given  in  the  Lydford  District. 

S.  Ex.  23. — Black  Down  and  Gibbet  Hill,  n  m.  By  road  to  the 
Ashburys,  as  in  Ex.  9.  Gibbet  Hill  is  less  than  £  m.  L.  on  entering  on 
the  down.  The  return  may  be  made  by  way  of  Brent  Tor  (Ex.  9). 

S.  Ex.  24. — Brent  Tor,  by  road,  4  m.  Leave  Tavistock  by  Higher 
Market  Street.  Notice  the  equestrian  ridge  tiles  on  the  house  L., 
above  the  market  place.  Pass  the  Union  House  and  up  the  hill.  fm. 
beyond  this  Hurdwick,  formerly  one  of  the  possessions  of  Tavistock 


Route  9.    Tavlstock  to  Lydford  and  Oke Hampton.  25 

Abbey,  lies  L.  2  m.  from  Tavistock  is  Pitland  Corner,  where  a  road 
branches  L.  to  Chillaton  and  Marystowe.  Keep  straight  on,  and  the 
tor  will  soon  be  seen.  The  gate  named  in  Ex.  9  will  be  found  R. 
when  the  rambler  is  abreast  of  the  tor.  The  return  may  be  made  by 
train  from  Brent  Tor  Station.  From  the  tor  to  the  station,  i-J-  m. 


Routes  from  Tavistock. 

Distances  are  given  one  way  only.     Bearings  of 
Destination  approximate. 

R.  9.— To  Lydford  and  Okehampton,  N.E.  by  N.  (A)  BY  ROAD  : 
Black  Down,  Skit  Bridge,  Fox  Cross,  Sourton.  Lydford,  via  Skit,  8  m. 
Reverse,  Rs.  21,  23.  Okehampton,  16  m.  Reverse,  R.  30.  (B)  BY 
THE  MOOR  to  Okehampton  only  :  Peter  Tavy,  Walkham  Head,  Broad 
Amicombe  Hole,  Dinger  Plain,  18  m.  Reverse,  R.  30,  B. 

[The  road  route  for  the  most  part  only  skirts  the  moor.  The  tors 
seen  R.  are  noticed  in  Exs.  8  to  15.  The  objects  passed  in  going  to 
Okehampton  by  way  of  the  moor  are  described  in  Exs.  8,  n,  14,  15-] 

(A)  The  road  is  followed  throughout.     After  passing  over  Black 
Down  (Ex.  9)  it  descends  by  Watervale,  R.  and  L-,  to  Beardon,  L. 
(Take-off  Stone  by  the  wayside,  see  Ex.   10),  and  crosses  the  Lyd  at 
Skit  Bridge.     The  path  to  Lydford  village  branches  off  L.   at  the 
seventh  milestone,  before  the  bridge  is  reached,  but  this  can  only  be 
used  by  the  pedestrian.     Beyond  the  bridge  the  road  to   Lydford, 
which  is  not  far  off,  turns  L.     The  Okehampton  road  runs  on  past  the 
Dartmoor  Inn  to  Vale  Down  (Ex.  13),  just  beyond  which  is  Fox  Cross, 
where  a  road  turns  L.  to  Bridestowe  Station,  S.W.R.,  less  than  £  m. 
At  the  cross  is  a  comfortable  hostelry  called  the  Fox  and  Hounds. 
The  road  runs  on  through  Southerly  and  Lake  to  Sourton  (Ex.   13), 
the  tors  of  which  name  are  R.     Beyond  Sourton  Prewly  Moor  is  reached, 
where  the  road  runs  close  to  the  railway.     At  the  northern  end  of  this 
is  Jockey  Down's  House,  two  or  three  dwellings  by  the  roadside  to 
which  the  name  of  an  old  cottage  is  still  attached.     Pass  the  stone 
cross  R.  (S.  Ex.  34),  near  where  a  road  comes  in  from  Bridestowe,  and 
another  runs  off  L.  to  Hatherleigh,  and  on  to  the  railway  bridge,  from 
which  point  Okehampton  is  3  m.  distant. 

(Lydford  may  also  be  reached  from  Tavistock  bv  the  road  running 
past  Pitland  Corner  (S.  Ex.  24)  and  Brent  Tor  village.  The  latter 
lies  R.  after  passing  the  tor.  The  road  then  runs  to  the  Manor  Hotel, 
and  thence  to  Lydford  by  way  of  Lydford  Bridge.) 

(B)  The  road  over  Black  Down  is  the  most  direct  way  to  Oke- 
hampton, but  in  case  the  visitor  should  prefer  making  a  detour  and 
crossing  the  moor,  the  route  is  here  indicated.     To  Peter  Tavy,  as  in 
S.  Exs.  1 8,  19.     Pass  the  church  and  turn  in  lane  R.  to  Smeardon  Down. 
Thence  by  the  peat  track  to  Walkham  Head  (T.  16),  from  which  point 
the  route  from   Princetown  to  Okehampton  is  followed  (R.   3)  q.v. 
(This  route  also  shows  the  branch  to  Belstone). 

R.  io.— To  Chagford  and  Moreton,  E.N.E.  (A)  BY  ROAD  : 
Merivale,  Rundle  Stone,  Two  Bridges,  Post  Bridge,  Warren  House  Inn 


26  Route  10.    Tavistock  to  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

(i  m.  branch  L.  to  Chagford),  Moor  Gate,  Worm  Hill.  Chagford,  i8£  m. 
Moreton,  20  m.  Reverse,  R.  36.  (B)  BY  THE  MOOR  to  Chagford  : 
White  Barrow,  Maiden  Hill,  Devil's  Tor,  Row  Tor,  Broad  Down,  East 
Dart,  White  Ridge,  Fernworthy,  19  m.  Reverse,  R.  36,  B. 

[The  objects  passed  on  the  road  route  are  noticed  in  Exs.  I,  5,  6, 
7.  8,  44,  46,  45,  21,  22.  Those  on  the  moor  route  in  Exs.  8,  5,  46,  21.] 

(A)  Merivale,  either  by  way  of  Mount  Tavy  and  Moor  Shop,  as  in 
Ex.  8,  or  by  Whitchurch  Down,  Quarry  Lane,  and  the  Windy  Post 
(Ex.  7,  S.  Ex.  16).     Merivale  (Dartmoor  Inn)  (Ex.  i)  is  reached  soon 
after  passing  the  fourth  milestone  from  Tavistock.     Cross  the  bridge, 
and  ascend  the  hill  to  Rundle  Stone  (Exs.   I,  6)  as  in  Ex.   i.     Keep 
straight  on  due  E.  to  Two  Bridges,  from  which  place  the  routes  have 
already  been  described.     (See  R.  4). 

(B)  Should  the  visitor  feel  inclined  to  walk  across  the  moor  to 
Chagford  he  will  first  make  his  way  to  Peter  Tavy  and  Smeardon  Down, 
as  in  R.  9,  B.,  and  S.  Ex.  18.     The  peat  track  (T.  16)  must  then  be 
followed  to  White  Barrow  (Ex.  8),  where  he  will  find  himself  on  the 
I4ch  Path  (T.  18).     This  old  path  will  bring  him  to  the  Walkham,  E- 
(he  must  be  careful  not  to  turn  L.  where  it  forks).     He  will  cross  the 
Walkham  at  Sandy  Ford,  and  immediately  afterwards  the  Prison  Leat. 
Here  he  leaves  the  Lich  Path,  and  makes  his  way  across  Conies'  Down 
(Ex.  5)  in  a  direction  E.  by  N.,  having  as  he  proceeds  Maiden  Hill 
(T.   1 6,  Ex.   5)  on  his  L.  and  Conies'  Down  Tor  on  his  R.      At    the 
distance  of  rather  over  i  m.  he  will  reach  the  Cowsic,  just  below  its 
source,  not  far  to  the  E.  of  which  is  Devil's  Tor  and  Bear  Down  Man 
(Ex.  5).     From  the  menhir  he  will  proceed  to  Row  Tor  (Ex.  5),  over 
i  m.  distant,  the  direction  still  being  E.  by  N.     From  Row  Tor  he  will 
follow  the  wall  N.E.  of  it  (Ex.  5)  down  to  the  West  Dart,  and  up  the 
hill  to  its  N.E.  corner,  its  length  throughout  being  J  m.     Brown's 
House  is  R.  as  he  ascends  the  hill  (Ex.  5).     From  the  corner  of  the  wall 
the  way  lies  across  Broad  Down  to  Sandy  Hole  on  the  East  Dart,  the 
direction  being  N.N.E.,  and  the  distance  |  m.     (See  post).     He  will 
then  follow  the  sheep  path  on  the  R.  bank  of  the  river  up  through  the 
pass  above  the  hollow  (which  derives  its  name  from  the  accumulation 
of  sand  there),  and  having  arrived  at  its  head  will  be  able  to  cross  to 
the  L.  bank.     The  course  is  then  E.N.E.  for  i  m.  (care  being  taken 
not  to  bear  too  much  to  the  L-,  and  so  get  upon  the  fen),  when  the 
Vitifer  Mine  leat  will  be  reached.     This  he  will  cross,  and  steer  E.  by 
N.,  having  the  crest  of  White  Ridge  R.,  and  the  Leat  L.     In  a  little 
over  i  m.  he  will  arrive  at  the  enclosures  belonging  to  Fernworthy. 

[If  the  Dart  can  be  crossed  at  Sandy  Hole  the  course  thence  to 
the  leat  will  be  N.E.  The  direct  course  to  the  latter  from  the  Wild 
Banks  Corner  is  E.N.E.  by  N.,  but  as  it  might  not  be  possible  to  cross 
the  Dart  it  is  better  to  go  by  way  of  Sandy  Hole.  The  course,  how- 
ever, is  here  given.  The  Dart  would  be  reached  in  J  m.,  and  should 
be  crossed  near  where  it  begins  to  bend  towards  the  E.  On  the  side 
of  the  hill  above  this  point  is  the  Vitifer  Mine  leat  (Ex.  46),  which  is 
taken  from  the  river  about  J  m.  higher  up.  It  here  bends  N.,  and  from 
this  bend  the  course  is  N.E.  For  \  m.  the  river  will  be  on  the  rambler's 
R.  and  the  leat  on  his  L.  Then  they  will  both  be  lost,  as  the  former, 
after  flowing  a  short  distance  N.,  makes  an  abrupt  turn  and  runs  due 
S.,  while  the  leat  is  carried  from  Lade  Hill  to  the  N.  and  E.  sides  of 
White  Ridge  (Ex.  45).  Soon  after  these  are  lost  a  little  stream  flowing 


Routes  11  to  15.    Tavlstock  to  Bovey,  Ashburton,  Ivybrldge,  &c.   27 

southward  down  Lade  Hill  Bottom  into  the  Dart  is  crossed.  From 
this  feeder  (the  second  passed  since  leaving  the  river)  the  way  lies  over 
White  Ridge,  the  course  now  being  N.E.  by  E.,  and  in  ij  m.  the  leat 
is  again  met  by  the  Pern  worthy  enclosures.] 

The  rambler  now  descends  the  hill  to  the  Assacombe  Brook 
(Ex.  21),  and  crossing  this  will,  in  about  £  m.,  reach  the  Lowton  Brook, 
which  he  will  also  cross.  \  m.  beyond  this  the  Fernworthy  and  Chag- 
ford  road  is  reached.  To  this  point  the  line  is  still  N.E.  by  E.,  but  it 
may  have  to  be  deviated  from  a  little  as  the  Lowton  Rocks  lie  just  in 
the  way.  The  road  is  followed  N.E.,  passing  Metheral,  and  leaving 
the  moor  about  £•  m.  beyond  it.  At  the  first  fork  the  rambler  may 
either  bear  I/,  by  Collihole,  or  R.  by  Meldon  Hill.  If  the  former  he 
will  reach  Thorn,  where  he  turns  R.  to  Waye  Barton  ;  if  the  latter  he 
will  bear  L.  all  the  way,  leaving  the  down  on  the  R.,  and  will  also  reach 
Waye  Barton.  From  this  Chagford  is  about  £•  m.  distant. 

R.  ii. — To  Bovey  Tracey,  E.  by  N.  R.  10  A.  to  Two  Bridges 
(branch  off  R.  at  Rundle  Stone  if  for  Princetown).  Thence  see  R.  5,  A. 
B,  and  C,  25  m.  Reverse,  R.  43. 

R.  12.— To  Ashburton  and  Buckfastleigh,  E.  by  S.  To  Prince- 
town  or  Two  Bridges  see  R.  11.  Thence  see  R.  6,  A,  B,  and  C.  Via 
Princetown  and  Holne,  20  m.  ;  via  Two  Bridges,  21  m.  Reverse,  R.  50. 

R.  13. — To  Brent,  Ivybridge,  and  Cornwood,  S.E.  round  to  S. 
To  Princetown  see  R.  1 1 .  Thence  see  R.  7.  Brent,  19^  m.  ;  Ivybridge, 
20  m.  ;  Cornwood,  17  m.  Reverse,  R.  60,  61. 

[To  Cornwood  and  Ivybridge  by  road.  Whitchurch  Down  to 
Warren's  Cross,  and  straight  on  towards  Sampford  Spiney  as  in 
S.  Ex.  15,  but  on  emerging  on  Plaster  Down  bear  R.  at  the  fork. 
About  i£  m.  from  this  the  old  stone  cross  on  Huckworthy  Common 
is  reached  (Ex.  40).  A  short  distance  beyond  it  turn  L.,  and  descend 
the  hill  to  Huckworthy  Bridge  (Ex.  40) ;"  thence  through  the  lane  to 
Walkhampton  village.  Up  the  road  S.S.E.  for  £  m.  to  Dousland 
(Ex.  39).  Cross  the  Yelverton  and  Princetown  road,  and  skirting 
Yennadon  descend  to  Marchants  Bridge  (Ex.  38)  over  the  Mew,  the 
village  of  Meavy  (Ex.  38)  being  R.  just  before  reaching  it.  Cross  the 
bridge  and  pass  up  Lynch  Hill  R.  At  the  end  of  the  down,  where  a 
very  narrow  lane  leads  into  Brisworthy  (R.  8),  turn  sharp  R.,  and  then 
bend  L.,  descending  the  hill  to  Cadaford  Bridge.  Thence  see  R.  8.] 

R.  14.— To  Plympton  and  Shaugh,  S.S.E.  To  Cadaford  Bridge, 
as  in  route  13.  Thence  as  in  route  8.  To  Plympton,  15  m.  ;  to 
Shaugh,  ic4  m.  Reverse,  R.  68. 

R.  15.— To  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges,  E.  (A)  Whitchurch 
Down,  Moortown.  (B)  Moor  Shop.  This  route  has  been  described  in 
Ex.  7,  S.  Ex.  16,  Ex.  8,  i,  and  R.  10  A.  P.T.,  7^  m.  ;  T.B.,  8  m. 
Reverse,  R.  i. 


As  mentioned  in  the  Hints  to  the  Rambler  in  Part  I,  it  is  presumed 
that  the  tourist  is  provided  with  a  pocket  compass. 


28  TAVI8TOCK  TO  CRANMERE. 


ROUTES  TO  CRANMERE. 

(The  Pool  is  described  in  Part  III.     Directions  for  reaching  it 
are  given  in  each  District). 

C.  R.  3.— From  TA  VI STOCK  via  Pork  Hill,  1 1£  m.  To  the  com- 
mons as  in  Ex.  8,  £  m.  beyond  Moor  Shop.  Strike  I,,  with  Cocks'  Tor 
Hill  close  L.  ;  thence  to  Roose  Tor,  N.E.,  from  which  the  course  is  the 
same  along  the  ridge,  keeping  above  the  valley  of  the  Walkham  R. 
When  the  stream  bends  R.  above  Mis  Tor  continue  N.E.  %  m.  beyond 
this  the  Lich  Path  (T.  18)  will  be  struck  where  it  descends  to  Sandy 
Ford.  (This  point  may  also  be  reached  by  way  of  Peter  Tavy, 
as  in  R.  10).  Take  the  L.  branch,  i.e.,  T.  16,  and  follow  it  to 
Walkham  Head.  Thence  as  in  C.R.  ie.,  which  is  as  follows.  At 
Walkham  Head  leave  the  source  R.  and  bear  L.  when  ascending  the 
further  bank,  in  order  to  avoid  the  fen  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge. 
When  this  is  reached  Fur  Tor  will  be  a  prominent  object  in  the  view 
about  N.E.  Make  for  R.  of  this,  crossing  the  Tavy  on  the  way. 
Descend  into  Cut  Combe,  E.  of  Fur  Tor,  and  follow  Cut  Combe  Water 
downward,  R.  bank.  When  it  bends  L.  leave  it ;  strike  N.  across  Rush 
Bottom  and  over  the  eastern  side  of  Little  Kneeset  to  where  two 
branches  of  Black  Ridge  Water  meet,  the  point  being  rather  over  £  m. 
from  where  Cut  Combe  Water  was  left.  Follow  up  the  L.  branch,  that 
is,  the  western  one,  to  its  source  ;  the  pool  is  £  m.  N.N.E.  of  that  point. 
If  the  ground  is  bad  ascend  Little  Kneeset,  crossing  it  N.W.  by  N.  to 
Black  Hole.  A  branch  of  the  Black  Ridge  Water  comes  down  from 
the  N.  and  joins  the  other  less  than  £  m.  due  N.  of  the  rocks  on  Little 
Kneeset  (1,665  feet ;  the  ground  rises  eastward  of  this),  and  about  J  m. 
southward  of  Great  Kneeset.  Follow  up  this  branch  nearly  to  its 
head  (J  m.  under  Great  Kneeset),  and  then  strike  E.  by  N.  along  the 
edge  of  Kneeset  Pan  direct  to  the  pool.  Pan  L.,  good  ground  ;  fen  R. 

C.  R.  4. — From  TA  VI STOCK  via  Wapswortby,  1 2  m.  By  road 
through  Peter  Tavy  as  in  Exs.  8,  9.  From  Wapsworthy  the  old  peat 
track  (T.  19)  is  followed  to  Brook's  Head,  whence  Outer  Red  Lake 
runs  down  through  The  Meads  to  the  Tavy.  Thence  N.E.  to  that 
river,  which  should  be  struck  near  where  the  Fur  Tor  Brook  falls  into 
it ;  below  this,  on  the  L.  bank,  is  Tavy  Hole  Stone.  Keep  on  N.E. 
under  Fur  Tor,  which  is  R.,  for  over  £  m.  to  where  the  Cut  Combe  Water 
comes  from  R.  into  the  Amicombe.  Leave  the  Cut  Combe  stream  R. 
and  follow  the  Amicombe  L.  for  a  very  short  distance,  when  turn  R. 
into  Black  Hole,  and  follow  the  stream  running  through  it  to  the  first 
fork.  This  is  £  m.  due  N.  of  the  rocks  on  Little  Kneeset.  Turn  L.  and 
follow  the  instructions  given  in  R.  ie. 

From  MARY  TAVY  and  BRENT  TOR.  Route  C.R.  4  is  joined 
at  Wapsworthy  by  way  of  Hill  Bridge,  or,  in  the  case  of  the  former, 
also  by  way  of  Horndon  Clam. 

For  Routes  from  Lydford  and  Bridestowe  see  post. 


30  [  LYDFORD   VILLAGE    AND    GORGE. 


LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

DISTANCES.  BY  ROAD  :  These  may  be  ascertained  by  con- 
sulting the  tables  given  under  TAVISTOCK  and  OKEHAMPTON 
remembering  that  Lydford  (reckoning  the  DARTMOOR  INN  as  the 
starting-point)  lies  about  midway  between  the  two,  i.e.,  8  m.  from 
either,  and  adding  or  deducting  that  number  of  miles  as  the  case  may 
be. 

BY  RAIL:  G.W.  and  L.S.W.,  the  same  as  from  TAVISTOCK, 
adding  6  m.  if  for  Down  trains,  i.e.,  towards  PLYMOUTH.  Deduct 
6  m.  for  Up  trains,  i.e.,  towards  EXETER,  L.S.W.  only.  BRIDES- 
TOW  E  Station  (L.S.W.  only)  is  9  m.  nearer  OKEHAMPTON,  and 
serves  Lydford  just  as  well  as  its  own  station.  It  is  a  little  over  J  m. 
from  the  Fox  and  Hounds,  which  hostelry  is  i  in.  from  the  Dartmoor 
Inn,  on  the  Okehampton  road. 


Important  Points  and  Landmarks. 

Porstall  Cross— Great  Links  Tor— Hill  Bridge— Noddon  Gate. 
Places  of  Interest.  Black  Down  (Tavistock  District) — Bra  Tor — 
Branscombe's  Loaf — Brent  Tor  (Tavistock  District) — Lydford  Gorge 
and  Waterfall— The  Lyd  below  Doe  Tor— Skit  Steps— Tavy  Cleave. 
Prehistoric  Antiquities.  Arms  Tor:  hut  circles— The  Rings.  Watern 
Oke  :  hut  circles — Noddon  Rings,  on  the  Lyd :  hut  circles — Rattle 
Brook  :  hut  circles — Standon  Houses,  on  the  Tavy  :  hut  circles. 

Formerly  a  place  of  importance  Lydford  is  now  only  a 
village.  The  Castle  is  referred  to  in  the  Terms  section,  under 
Lydford  Law  and  Stannaries.  Early  in  the  nineteenth  century 
the  Duchy  Courts,  which  had  long  been  held  in  it,  were  removed  to 
Princetown,  and  it  then  fell  into  decay.  A  site  near  the  river  is  known 
as  the  South  Gate,  and  below  the  church  are  the  remains  of  an  entrench- 
ment. A  mound  in  a  field  W.  of  the  cross  roads  in  the  village  bears 
the  name  of  Gallows  Hill. 


Lydford  Gorge. 

Perhaps  no  beauty  spot  on  the  borders  of  Dartmoor  is  better 
known  than  the  romantic  Lydford  Gorge.  [Gems,  Chap.  XXIII.]  At 
one  point  it  is  spanned  by  a  bridge  thrown  across  a  deep  and  narrow 
chasm.  This  is  not  far  from  the  castie,  and  visitors  are  admitted  here 
-on  the  Monday  in  each  week  on  payment  of  a  small  charge.  At  the 
lower  end  of  the  gorge  is  the  celebrated  Lydford  Waterfall,  formed  by 
a  small  stream,  which  rises  on  Black  Down,  leaping  from  a  considerable 
height  into  the  Lyd.  To  this  part  of  the  beautifully  wooded  ravine 
visitors  are  admitted  at  all  times  ;  tickets  are  to  be  had  at  the  Manor 
Hotel,  near  Lydford  Station,  where  it  is  entered. 


EXCURSION  10.       SKIT   STEPS.       BEARDON.  31 


Excursions  from  Lydford. 

Tracks  in  the  vicinity,  Nos.  18  to  30.  [These  excursions  extend 
over  an  area  comprehended  within  an  imaginary  line  drawn  from 
Lydford  Station,  by  Hill  Bridge  and  Wapsworthy,  to  White  Barrow 
and  Sandy  Ford  on  the  Walkham  ;  thence  to  the  head  of  that  river 
and  onward  to  Tavy  Hole  and  the  Amicombe  ;  thence  N.W.  across 
Watern  Oke  to  the  Rattle  Brook,  and  to  the  head  of  that  stream  ;  and 
thence  by  Stinka  Tor  and  Branscombe's  Loaf  to  the  Sourton  Tors. 
Within  this  is  included  the  Hamlet  of  Willsworthy,  the  name  of  an 
extensive  manor  in  Peter  Tavy  parish  (Ex.  2),  the  boundaries  of  which 
are  as  follows  :  From  Buddla  Corner  on  Black  Down,  by  the  bondstones 
running  by  Down  Pool,  Tin  Pits,  and  the  Ring  o'  Bells  to  Prescombe 
Corner  ;  thence  to  Sounscombe  Head  and  Sounscombe  Foot  and 
Beardon  Gate  ;  thence  to  Lissicombe  Head  and  down  the  hill  to  Lissi- 
combe  Foot ;  thence  to  Greenwell,  and  across  the  marsh  to  the  Walla 
Brook,  and  up  that  stream  to  a  bond-mark  in  Doe  Tor  Bottom  ;  from 
Walla  Brook  Head  to  a  cairn  between  Hare  Tor  and  Sharp  Tor  ;  thence 
to  Dead  Lake  Head  and  so  down  to  the  Rattle  Brook  ;  thence  to  the 
Tavy,  and  up  the  Tavy  to  Red  Lake  Foot ;  up  Red  Lake  nearly  to 
the  head,  and  thence  to  a  pile  of  stones  ;  thence  to  the  head  of  the 
Bagga  Tor  Brook,  and  down  the  brook  by  Bagga  Tor  Farm  and  the 
Hare's  Double  to  the  Tavy  ;  thence  down  the  Tavy  to  Hill  Bridge, 
and  up  by  the  stream  on  the  edge  of  Chilly  Wood  to  the  enclosures, 
and  thence  to  Buddla  Corner — most  of  these  points  are  noticed  in  the 
excursions.  The  hamlet  includes  Tavy  Cleave  within  its  boundaries, 
and  the  beautiful  Hare  Tor.  It  is  a  matter  for  regret  that  such  a 
charming  part  of  Dartmoor  should  be  robbed  of  its  quietude  and 
seclusion,  but  much  of  it  has  been  acquired  by  the  WTar  Office 
for  rifle  practice,  as  also  has  a  part  of  Black  Down  belonging  to 
Mary  Tavy.  The  Extension  in  Ex.  1 1  includes  Fur  Tor  and  Cut  Hill.] 

Ex.  10. — Forstall  Cross,  Snap,  Hill  Bridge,  Wapsworthy,  Linch 
Tor,  Brook's  Head,  Standon,  Willsworthy  Ford,  Willsworthy  Brook, 
Yellowmead,  14^  m. 

From  Lydford  village  we  shall  first  make  our  way  by  Lake  to 
Skit  Steps,  and  thence  by  the  path  to  the  highway.  Here  we  turn 
S.  at  the  seventh  milestone,  which  we  shall  notice  is  rudely  shaped 
like  a  cross  [Crosses,  Chap.  II.]  Just  beyond  it,  on  the  same  side  of 
the  road,  we  pass  Take-off  Stone  [100  Years,  Chap.  II.],  beyond  which 
in  former  days  a  third  horse  attached  to  a  waggon  when  two  only  had 
been  charged  for  at  the  turnpike  last  passed,  could  not  proceed.  Pass- 
ing in  succession  Lower  and  Higher  Beardon  we  turn  L.  into  Down 
Lane,  where  we  are  on  the  line  of  the  old  Lich  Path  (T.  18).  [A  little 


32  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

farther  up  the  main  road  the  Sounscombe  Brook  comes  down  from  the 
common,  and  here  on  the  R.  there  is  a  gate.  Just  within  it  is  a  portion 
of  the  King  Way  (T.  26)  coming  down  from  Black  Down.  Higher  up 
the  road,  and  not  far  from  the  verge  of  the  down  is  Watervale,  where 
was  formerly  an  inn,  which  may  possibly  have  suggested  to  Kingsley 
the  one  he  has  placed  on  the  common.  The  two  stones — one  near  the 
brook,  and  the  other  on  the  edge  of  the  down  above  Watervale — mark 
what  was  formerly  the  boundary  line  of  Lamerton  parish.]  Entering 
upon  Black  Down  at  the  top  of  Down  Lane,  we  follow  the  green  path 
S.E.  over  the  ridge,  turning  neither  to  the  L.  nor  R.,  to  Porstall  Cross 
(T.  1 8).*  L.  as  we  descend  the  slope  is  White  Hill,  and  R.  is  Black 
Hill,  surmounted  with  the  Ring  o'  Bells  (Ex.  9).  Quite  near  to  the 
cross  paths  the  mine  leat  (Ex.  9)  makes  a  bend,  and  below  this  we 
follow  it  for  a  short  distance  southward,  when  we  cross  it,  and 
still  follow  the  track  as  it  runs  nearly  parallel  to  it,  with  Yellow- 
mead  Farm  below  us  on  the  L.  We  also  see  Redford,  which  lies  about 
£  m.  beyond  that  farm  in  a  N.E.  direction.  Our  way  lies  across  the 
side  of  Yellowmead  Hill  and  Snap  to  the  corner  of  the  down  mentioned 
in  Ex.  9,  where  the  view  is  described. 

[If  the  start  is  made  from  the  Manor  Hotel  the  route  to  this  point 
will  take  the  visitor  to  the  moor  gate,  close  to  the  cottages  of  the 
L-S.W.R.  Co.  Here  he  enters  on  the  down,  and  follows  the  green  path 
that  runs  up  by  Henscott  Plantations,  taking  care  not  to  branch  R. 
towards  Gibbet  Hill.  When  a  little  way  from  the  gate  he  will  notice 
Hall  Farm  on  the  L-,  locally  Yal,  immediately  below  which  is  a  small 
clapper.  In  rather  less  than  a  mile  from  the  gate  he  will  cross  the  high 
road,  and  still  following  the  track  for  about  the  same  distance,  will 
reach  Horndon  Down  Bridge  (Ex.  9),  where,  turning  eastward  with  the 
mine  leat  on  his  R.,  he  will  be  led  to  the  footbridge  mentioned  in  that 
Excursion,  below  which  is  the  corner  of  the  down  where  the  Lich  Path 
(T.  1 8)  enters  the  enclosures.] 

We  follow  the  track  across  the  side  of  the  enclosure  to  Yard  Gate 
(Ex.  9),  and  passing  through  it  shall  make  our  way  down  the  lane, 
noticing  Buddla  Lane,  which  branches  R.,  about  200  yards  from  it 
(Ex.  9).  At  the  fork  just  below  (Ex.  9)  we  bear  R.,  and  shortly  after 
passing  Hilltown  Farm,  shall  reach  Hill  Bridge  (Ex.  8).  Instead  of 
passing  up  Church  Lane  (Ex.  8)  we  mount  the  steps  L-,  of  the  road 
immediately  after  crossing  the  bridge,  and  follow  the  path  through  the 

*  Roads  made  by  the  War  Office  run  over  this  part  of  the  down. 
These  were  rendered  necessary  by  the  formation  of  the  Willsworthy 
Camp  (so  called  from  its  having  been  first  formed  near  that  place). 
Since  that  time  the  character  of  this  part  of  the  moor,  during  certain 
months  of  the  year,  is  no  longer  what  it  was.  Bnt  the  camp  is  usually 
broken  up  in  the  early  summer,  so  that  visitors  are  not  altogether 
debarred  from  seeing  the  down  in  its  undisturbed  state.  I  have  heard 
old  men,  who  had  lived  in  the  locality  all  their  lives,  speak  of  Forstall 
Cross  as  Postall,  or  Postle,  Cross,  and  as  tracks  such  as  the  Lich  Path 
on  which  it  stands  are  often  referred  to  by  the  moormen  as  post-roads 
it  is  not  improbable  that  the  latter  may  be  the  true  name. 


EXCURSION  10.       WAPSWORTHY.       STANDON.  33 

fields  described  in  Ex.  8.  This  path  will  lead  us  to  Wapsworthy  Bridge, 
which  is  about  \  m.  distant. 

Wapsworthy,  which  now  merely  consists  of  three  farms,  probably 
represents  an  early  settlement.  It  is  rather  amusing  to  find  the  name 
given  in  one  place  as  Waspworthy,  and  to  be  told  that  Wapsworthy 
is  merely  the  Devon  vernacular,  an  idea  presumably  founded  on  the 
fact  that  in  the  peasant  speech  wasp  is  frequently  waps.  Many  strange 
things  have  taken  place  on  Dartmoor,  but  it  is  altogether  beyond  us 
to  conceive  of  wasps  ever  having  formed  a  worthig,  or  settlement, 
there.  The  name  as  it  is  pronounced  to-day  is  met  with  on  the  Court 
Rolls  several  centuries  ago.  Like  other  dwellers  in  the  skirts  of  the 
forest  the  people  of  this  place  sometimes  neglected  to  keep  up  their 
fences.  In  1609  the  inhabitants  were  presented  at  the  Court  at  Lydford 
for  allowing  the  fence  called  Wapsworthie  Hedge,  hard  by  the  forest 
of  Dartmoor,  to  be  in  a  ruinous  condition. 

A  footpath  runs  from  Wapsworthy  to  Longbetor,  beyond  which 
is  the  common  under  Linch  Tor,  but  we  shah1  make  our  way  thither  by 
the  road.  Longbetor  was  formerly  the  abode  of  a  certain  "  old  squire  " 
who  kept  a  pack  of  hounds  here,  and  of  whom  more  than  one  story  is 
related.  The  present  house,  as  appears  from  a  tablet  in  the  wall,  was 
built  in  1849,  and  is  a  little  further  removed  from  the  Wapsworthy 
Brook  than  the  original  dwelling,  the  remains  of  which  may  yet  be 
seen,  including  a  part  of  the  "  old  squire's  oven."  Above  Longbetor 
is  a  miry  spot  known  as  Wapsworthy  Wells,  and  the  scene  of  one  of  the 
squire's  adventures.  Leaving  the  bridge  we  pass  up  the  road  as  shown 
in  the  Paths'  section  (T.  19),  bending  gradually  E.,  for  about  £  m., 
when  we  reach  a  gate  on  the  L.,  where  a  track  leads  through  some 
enclosures  to  Standon  Farm.  An  immense  wall,  formed  of  the  stones 
gathered  when  the  enclosures  were  cleared,  will  be  seen  "L,.,  and  imme- 
diately within  the  gate  the  turf-covered  foundations  of  what  apparently 
was  once  a  building.  To  this  we  shall  presently  refer.  The  track 
through  the  fields  crosses  the  Bagga  Tor  Brook  at  a  ford,  close  below 
which  is  a  very  interesting  clapper,  consisting  of  two  openings,  the 
roadway  being  formed  by  two  stones  laid  over  each  of  these  (T.  18). 
Standon  Farm  was  formerly  haunted,  but  the  ghost  does  not  appear 
to  have  done  much  harm  beyond  occasionally  turning  everything 
in  the  house  topsy-turvy.  We  pass  up  the  road,  and  presently  notice 
another  gate  L.,  where  a  road  runs  in  to  Brousen  Tor  Farm,  and  is 
continued  to  the  ford  mentioned  above.  Just  beyond  this  gate  the 
road  bends  a  little  L-,  and  here  on  the  R.  of  the  way,  is  a  green  mound. 
It  is  known  as  the  Frenchmen's  Grave,  and  according  to  the  story 
three  brothers  lie  buried  here.  These  Frenchmen  are  said  to  have 
lived  in  the  house,  the  foundations  of  which  we  were  able  to  trace  on 
the  turf  near  the  gate.  First  one  died  and  then  another,  both  being 
laid  to  rest  at  this  spot.  By-and-bye  the  surviving  brother  died,  and 
was  also  buried  here,  together  with  everything  that  their  house  had 
contained.  A  farmer  living  near  once  thought  of  digging  into  the 
mound  in  the  hope  of  finding  something  valuable.  But  when  he  heard 
that  certain  antiquaries  in  their  searches  on  the  moor  never  found 
anything  but  "  a  passel  o'  flint  an'  shards,"  he  abandoned  the  idea, 
remarking  that  he  had  no  time  to  "  draw  away  'pon  sich  foolish  'ole 
games." 

A  little  further  on  we  enter  a  newtake,  with  Bagga  Tor  (1,219  feet) 


34  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

close  by  on  the  I,.,  the  farm  of  that  name  lying  in  the  valley  beyond  it, 
to  which  a  road  is  seen  leading.  Here  we  are  on  the  line  of  the  Lich 
Path,  which  may  be  seen  coming  down  the  hill  from  the  E.,  and  which 
ran  from  this  point  to  the  ford  on  the  Tavy  below  Willsworthy  (T.  18). 
We  follow  this  and  shall  soon  be  led  to  the  moor  gate,  on  passing 
through  which  we  find  ourselves  in  a  large  stroll,  formed  by  the  walls 
of  the  Bagga  Tor  enclosures  on  the  L.,  and  those  of  Longbetor  on  the  R. 
At  the  outer  end  of  the  stroll  a  large  bush  will  be  observed  in  the 
corner  of  the  Bagga  Tor  newtake,  and  which,  it  may  be  seen,  is  pro- 
tected by  a  wall  built  across  the  corner.  Another  will  be  observed  in 
the  corner  towards  the  N.,  and  this  is  similarly  fenced  against  the 
cattle.  These  shrubs  were  brought  from  abroad,  and  were  planted 
here  nearly  sixty  years  ago.  A  note  of  the  circumstance  was  made 
at  the  time  by  my  old  Dartmoor  friend,  James  Stephens,  who  passed 
the  whole  of  his  life  in  this  neighbourhood. 

From  this  point  the  Lich  Path  runs  about  S.E.  to  White  Barrow, 
having  Cocks'  Hill  (Ex.  8)  S.  of  it,  and  Green  Hill  on  the  N.,  the  slight 
depression  between  the  two  being  visible  from  where  we  stand.  Green 
Hill  extends  northward  for  rather  over  \  m.,  where  is  another  very 
slight  depression,  eastward  of  the  corner  bush  at  which  we  have  arrived. 
Northward  of  Green  Hill  is  Linch  Down,  on  which  is  situated  Linch 
Tor,  in  full  view  from  the  bush,  and  £  m.  from  it,  and  to  this  we  now 
make  our  way.  The  track  which  runs  L.  goes  out  to  Brook's  Head, 
with  branches  to  Walkham  Head  (T.  19). 

Linch  Tor  is  not  of  great  size,  and  the  principal  pile  is  on  the  slope 
below  the  crest  of  the  hill.  The  southernmost  pile  is  on  the  crest,  and 
around  it  stones  are  heaped  in  the  form  of  a  cairn.  This  is  known  as 
Limesboro,  and  forms  one  of  the  forest  bondmarks,  the  boundary  line 
being  drawn  from  it  northward  to  the  pile  of  stones,  mentioned  as 
forming  one  of  the  bounds  of  the  hamlet  of  Willsworthy,  and  thence 
to  Wester,  or  Homer,  Red  Lake.  Close  to  the  cairn  a  small  herdsman's 
shelter  will  be  noticed.  The  surface  level  is  1,697  feet-  The  western 
side  of  this  ridge,  southward  of  the  cairn,  which  descends  to  the  Walk- 
ham,  is  known  as  Stookey  Moor. 

Proceeding  northward  along  the  ridge,  with  the  head  waters  of 
the  Walkham  in  full  view  on  the  R.,  we  shall  shortly  cross  the  old 
peat  track  that  runs  out  to  the  ties  (T.  19),  one  branch  of  which  went 
to  the  Walkham  Head  Peat  Works,  now  disused.  At  that  point  there 
is  a  ford  over  the  shallow  stream,  and  a  track  runs  up  the  further  side, 
joining  the  path  from  Peter  Tavy  to  the  head  of  the  river  (T.  16).  A 
little  above  the  works  is  a  small  feeder  of  the  Walkham,  called  Ninny 
Lake,  and  here  many  years  ago  stood  a  building  known  as  the  Turf 
House.  In  this  the  peat  cut  for  use  at  Wheal  Betsy  used  to  be  stored. 
The  granite  pillars  that  supported  the  roof  are  still  to  be  seen.  This 
is  not  far  below  us  on  the  R.  as  we  proceed.  On  crossing  the  track  we 
bear  a  little  to  the  E.  of  N.,  and  at  the  distance  of  less  than  £  m.  shall 
come  upon  Black  Lane  (T.  19),  which  we  may  follow  past  Brook's 
Head  to  its  termination  a  short  distance  beyond.  Brook's  Head, 
which  is  really  the  source  of  Easter,  or  Outer,  Red  Lake,  is  on  the  L. 
Immense  quantities  of  peat  have  been  cut  here,  but  the  ties  are  now 
covered  with  herbage,  while  heather  and  whortleberry  plants  grow  on 
their  edges.  Just  below  is  Tavy  Hole  (R.  3),  beyond  which  Fur  Tor 
(Ex.  ii)  is  seen  rising  grandly. 


5.LYDFORD  DISTRICT. 


'"EXCURSIONS 

(EXTENSION  TO  EX.II. 


36  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

Here  we  retrace  our  steps,  and  follow  the  track  W.  and  S.  until  it 
loses  the  character  of  such,  and  becomes  a  mere  washed  out  gully. 
Then  we  leave  it  and  strike  R.  across  the  dip  by  the  head  of  the  Bagga 
Tor  Brook,  and  make  our  way  up  the  E.  side  of  Standon  Hill  to  the 
tumulus  on  its  summit  (which  we  were  able  to  see  from  North  His- 
worthy,  Princetown  District),  our  course  being  about  W.  The  view 
from  this  point  is  good.  On  leaving  it  we  strike  N.W.  by  N.  across 
Standon  Down,  and  descend  towards  the  Tavy.  Here  in  the  wide 
hollow  opposite  to  the  Tavy  Cleave  Tors  (Ex.  1 1 )  is  a  group  of  hut 
circles,  sometimes  spoken  of  as  Standon  Houses.  In  the  time  often 
referred  to  as  "  back  along  "  these,  it  appears,  were  inhabited,  but  the 
owners  were  driven  away  by  the  Evil  One,  whose  bellowing  at  night 
was  of  so  ear-splitting  a  character  that  they  were  unable  to  sleep. 
The  remains  are  situated  on  the  slope,  not  far  from  the  L.  bank  of  the 
Tavy,  S.E.  by  S.  of  Ger  Tor  (Ex.  1 1 ). 

From  this  group  of  antiquities  we  shall  make  our  way  down  the 
valley  S.W.  by  S.  to  Willsworthy  Ford,  or  Standon  Steps,  as  the  cross- 
ing-place is  more  often  called,  keeping  the  Tavy  near  to  us  on  the  R. 
the  whole  of  the  way.  Crossing  Putty  Moor  we  enter  a  stroll  at  the 
end  of  which  is  a  path  that  will  lead  us  directly  to  the  ford. 

[Immediately  outside  the  wall  of  an  enclosure  S.E.  of  Standon 
farmhouse,  is  a  kistvaen,  not,  however,  in  a  very  good  state  of 
preservation  ;  but  this  lies  rather  out  of  our  way.] 

Crossing  the  Tavy  at  Standon  Steps  we  ascend  the  narrow  way  to 
Willsworthy,  and  on  passing  the  farmhouse  shall  find  ourselves  in  the 
road  \  m.  from  Lane  End  (Exs.  9,  1 1 ),  which  is  R.  We  turn  L.  to 
Willsworthy  Bridge  (Ex.  9),  and  here  a  path  will  take  the  rambler 
who  is  on  his  way  to  Lydford  village  to  Forstall  Cross.  It  runs  up  the 
valley,  with  the  Willsworthy  Brook  on  the  R.,  and  passing  very  near 
to  Yellowmead  Farm,  soon  after  crosses  the  mine  leat  at  a  footbridge, 
close  to  the  cross.  (This  path  passes  over  the  ground  recently  acquired 
by  the  War  Office).  There  the  rambler  is  on  the  Lich  Path  (T.  18), 
which  he  will  follow  to  the  village.  If  the  visitor  is  returning  to 
Lydford  Station  he  will,  on  crossing  Willsworthy  Bridge,  follow  the 
road  and  take  the  first  turning  R.  by  Will  Farm  (Ex.  9),  and  keeping 
straight  on  up  the  lane  will  soon  reach  Yard  Gate  (Ex.  9).  He  will  now 
take  the  path  L-  to  some  mounting  steps,  and  will  pass  up  the  common, 
with  the  wall  on  his  R.  Not  far  beyond  the  corner  of  the  enclosure 
is  Horndon  Down  Bridge,  which  he  will  cross  (Ex.  9).  Here  he  takes 
the  green  track  running  N.W.,  branching  L.  at  the  fork,  and  will  follow 
it  to  the  road  that  runs  over  Black  Down.  This  he  crosses,  and  still 
keeping  to  the  green  path  will  be  led  to  the  gate  by  which  he  entered 
on  the  down  near  the  station. 

[Should  the  state  of  the  river  render  it  impossible  to  cross  at 
Standon  Steps,  it  will  be  necessary  to  descend  to  Hill  Bridge.  To  do 
this  the  rambler  will  make  his  way  from  Putty  Moor  to  Standon 
farmhouse,  near  by,  and  follow  the  road  thence  to  the  clapper  before 
referred  to,  and  so  on  to  the  Wapsworthy  road,  where  he  turns  R.  He 
will  not,  however,  go  as  far  as  Wapsworthy  Bridge,  but  will  enter  the 
gate  R..  mentioned  in  Ex.  8,  and  follow  the  path  through  the  fields  to 
Hill  Bridge,  there  described.  (At  the  confluence  of  the  Tavy  and  the 
Bagga  Tor  Brook,  about  midway  between  Hill  Bridge  and  Standon 
Steps,  there  are  also  stepping-stones  and  a  ford.  This  crossing-place 


EXCURSION  10.       HILL   BRIDGE   TO    LYDFORD.  57 

over  the  Tavy  is  known  as  Cataloo  Steps,  but  is  not  approached  on  the 
W.  bank  of  that  river  by  any  public  path.) 

From  Hill  Bridge  the  Lich  Path  (T.  18)  must  be  followed  by  the 
rambler  returning  to  Lydford  village,  the  road  taking  him  by  Hill 
Town,  Will,  and  Yard  Gate  (ante).  For  Lydford  Station  he  will  make 
his  way  from  the  bridge  to  Zoar  Down,  as  described  in  Ex.  8.  Here, 
instead  of  bearing  L.  as  in  that  excursion,  he  will  make  a  path  for 
himself  straight  up  over  the  down,  crossing  the  road  about  midway, 
and  at  its  head  will  find  an  opening  between  the  newtakes,  and  passing 
through  this  will  reach  Horndon  Down.  Striking  N.N.W.  he  will,  at 
the  distance  of  £  m.,  reach  Horndon  Down  Bridge,  from  which  point 
the  route  to  the  station  has  just  been  given.] 

Tristram  Risdon,  who  died  in  1640,  has  left  us  an  account  of  Lyd- 
ford as  it  was  in  his  time.  He  tells  us  that  some  considered  that  its 
ancient  name  was  Lyghatford,  and  remarks  that  during  the  Heptarchy 
it  was  a  town  of  some  note,  "  that  felt  the  furious  rage  of  the  merciless 
Danes,  but  no  way  remarkable  by  any  good  buildings  there.  For  in 
the  nineteenth  year  of  King  Ethelred's  reign,  anno  997,  the  Danes 
arrived  in  the  river  Tamar,  and  destroyed  the  monastery  of  Tavistock, 
consuming  all  that  lay  in  their  way  with  fire  and  sword,  and  amongst 
other  cruelties,  burnt  the  town  also.  A  place  where  no  nice  nation 
would  have  made  choice,  for  the  situation  of  a  town  so  overlooked 
with  Dartmoor  hills,  unto  whose  storms,  without  any  shelter,  it  is 
subject ;  but  rather  the  giant-like  Albionists,  such  as  are  reported  to  be 
the  first  inhabiters  of  this  island,  or  at  least  some  of  Corinoeus'  com- 
panions, who  vanquished  these  giants  ;  they  would  otherwise  have 
found  a  place  freer  from  the  weather's  injury." 

From  the  above  the  visitor  will  perceive  that  a  great  change  has 
taken  place  in  Lydford  since  Risdon' s  day.  From  being  a  spot  of 
which  "  no  nice  nation  would  have  made  choice  "  it  has  become  one 
much  sought  after  by  the  tourist.  But  perhaps  the  change  is  not 
altogether  in  the.  place  itself  ;  much  of  it  may  be  in  the  taste  of  those 
who  visit  it.  What  were  not  considered  beauties  in  the  seventeenth 
century  may  prove  attractive  in  the  twentieth. 

But  Risdon  is  careful  to  add  that  the  town  had  seen  b-tter  days. 
"  It  may,"  he  says,  "  prescribe  for  antiquity  before  many  other  of  more 
worth  and  receipt,  to  this  day.  Yea,  it  is  averred,  and  there  want  not 
proofs  to  maintain  it,  that  it  came  little  short  of  some  cities  ;  for  they 
can  show  you  where  the  gates  stood,  and  also  the  foundation  of  the 
walls  that  encircled  it,  compacted  of  moorstone  and  lime,  which  they 
lighted  on  as  they  digged  their  fields  ;  whereof  it  may  be  said : 

Waste  lye  the  walls  that  were  so  good. 
And  corn  now  grows  where  Troy  stood. 

Furthermore,  the  number  of  burgesses  do  argue  its  former  worth, 
which  contained  within  the  walls  (as  appeareth  by  their  charter)  an 
hundred  and  forty.  In  King  Edward  the  Confessor' s  days  this  borough 
was  the  King's  demesne." 


38  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 


Ex.  ii. — Tavy  Cleave  (3^  m.  distant),  Watern  Oke,  Rattle  Brook 
Hill,  High  Down,  9  m.  (including  Ger  Tor,  10  m.)  WITH  EXTENSION 
TO  Fur  Tor  and  Cut  Hill,  add  5^  m. 

[The  path  to  Ger  Tor  from  Lane  End  is  described  post,  but  a  tele- 
graph wire  now  marks  the  way.  This  communicates  with  the  flagstaff 
on  the  summit  of  the  tor.] 

Our  first  point  will  be  the  N.  end  of  the  Redford  enclosures.  If 
we  start  from  Lydford  village  we  make  our  way  by  Skit  Steps  to  Down 
Lane,  as  in  Ex.  10.  On  reaching  the  common  we  desert  the  Lich  Path 
(T.  1 8),  and  strike  almost  due  E.  to  the  corner  of  the  plantation  above 
Bear  Walls,  and  under  White  Hill  (Ex.  10),  following  a  green  track 
(T.  22)  that  runs  out  to  the  point  for  which  we  are  making.  We  may 
continue  along  this,  with  the  plantation  L.(  or  may  still  keep  an 
easterly  line,  and  passing  over  the  summit  of  White  Hill,  thence 
make  our  way  to  the  enclosure,  which  is  just  below. 

[If  our  starting-place  be  the  station,  we  pass  up  the  side  of  Black 
Down,  with  Henscott  Plantations  on  our  L-,  as  in  Ex.  10,  and  when 
near  the  head  of  the  latter,  shall  leave  the  track,  which  bears  R.,  and 
keep  straight  on  to  the  high  road.  This  we  cross,  going  due  E.,  and 
shall  very  soon  strike  the  Dartmoor  Path  (T.  21)  .into  which  we  turn 
L.,  and  passing  the  Ring  o'  Bells  (Ex.  9)  and  Forstall  Cross  (T.  18), 
shall  follow  the  grassy  track  with  the  Redford  enclosures  R.  to  the 
point  above  named.  (The  stones  noticed  near  the  wall,  with  the 
letter  H.  cut  upon  them,  are  bondmarks  formerly  belonging  to  the 
Hamlyn  property.] 

From  the  N.  end  of  the  Redford  enclosures  we  proceed  in  a  direction 
S.E.,  with  Hare  Tor  on  the  L.  This  beautiful  tor,  which  attains  an 
elevation  of  1,744  feet,  is  of  a  conical  form,  and  a  striking  object  from 
whichever  side  it  is  viewed.  There  is  a  small  grassy  hollow  on  its 
summit,  an  unusual  feature  in  a  Dartmoor  tor,  though  something  akin 
to  it  is  met  with  on  Longaford  Tor  (Ex.  5)  and  on  Down  Tor  (Ex.  2). 
The  view  is  very  fine,  embracing  as  it  does  so  much  of  the  forest,  and 
such  a  wide  extent  of  woodland  and  field.  This  tor,  so  we  are  told, 
bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  a  hare,  which,  it  is  said,  probably  accounts 
for  its  name.  It  requires  a  very  strong  imagination  to  perceive  this 
likeness,  one  that  would  see  a  mouse,  or  an  ox,  or  any  other  animal, 
in  it  had  it  borne  a  suitable  appellation.  Many  of  the  Dartmoor  tors 
bear  Saxon  names,  their  more  ancient  Celtic  ones,  if  such  they  pos- 
sessed, having  been  lost.  Whether  the  name  of  the  tor  in  question 
was  given  to  it  in  Saxon  times,  or  whether  in  a  more  recent  day,  it  is, 
of  course,  impossible  to  say,  but  it  is  at  least  certain  that  it  has  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  a  hare.  This  is  proved  by  an  old  map  of  Wills- 


EXCURSION  11.   TAVY  CLEAVE.   GER  TOR      39 

worthy  Manor,  on  which  the  smaller  pile  to  the  N.  of  the  main  one  is 
named  Little  Hay  Tor,  and  the  other  Great  Hay  Tor.  It  is  not  difficult 
to  see  how  the  latter,  rising  as  it  does  above  the  Little  Hay,  or  High, 
Tor,  would  become  the  Hayer,  or  Higher,  Tor.  An  analogous  case 
occurs  above  Wapsworthy  Wells,  where  a  small  pile  on  the  slope  above 
an  equally  small  clatter,  is  always  spoken  of  as  Hare  Tor,  or,  as  it  is 
sounded,  Hayer  Tor,  the  appropriateness  of  the  name  to  its  situation 
being  understood. 

A  little  N.  of  Hare  Tor,  and  not  far  \V.  of  the  head  of  Dead  Lake, 
is  a  small  tumulus  known  as  the  Hay  Tor  Bound  of  Willsworthy  Manor, 
and  N.  of  this  is  Sharp  Tor,  called  sometimes  by  the  moormen  Lydford 
Sharp,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  chief  pile  of  the  Tavy  Cleave  group 
or  tors,  which  also  bears  that  name.  A  century  ago  it  was  re- 
marked by  an  antiquary  that  this  tor  well  deserved  its  name  some 
of  its  points  being  as  sharp  as  a  spear,  but  he  did  not  say  that  it 
was  derived  from  this.  There  are  eight  or  ten  Sharp  Tors  in  the  Dart- 
moor country,  and  they  probably  received  their  names  from 
moormen  in  comparatively  recent  times,  their  old  ones  being  lost. 
The  idea  with  them  is  not  that  the  rocks  are  sharp,  but  that  the  pile, 
whatever  its  form,  is,  in  a  manner,  a  point  standing  sharply  up  from 
the  common. 

Having  passed  Hare  Tor,  our  course  being  still  S.E.,  we  shall  soon 
reach  the  fine  group  of  tors  overlooking  the  deep  Tavy  Cleave.  These 
tors  are  five  in  number,  and  the  hill  on  the  brow  of  which  they  are 
placed  is  so  steep  as  to  form  what  is  practicallj'  a  cliff.  (See  remarks 
on  the  word  Cleave  in  the  Terms  section).  To  the  N.E.  of  this  group 
a  clatter  covers  the  side  of  the  hill  descending  to  the  river,  and  extends 
up  the  Tavy  nearly  to  Rattle  Brook  Foot.  On  the  further  side  of  the 
stream  the  hill  is  also  plentifully  strewn  with  rocks.  The  view  from 
these  tors,  or  from  Ger  Tor,  is  most  impressive.  In  none  of  the 
river  valleys  is  there  such  a  picture  of  wild  grandeur  as  is  here 
presented.  [Gems,  Chap.  XXIV.] 

[If  the  rambler  should  decide  to  visit  Ger  Tor  before  making  his 
way  to  the  Tavy  Cleave  group,  he  will,  instead  of  striking  across  the 
common  S.E.  from  the  Redford  enclosures,  keep  the  wall  of  them 
almost  close  to  him  R.,  and  when  around  the  bend  will  proceed  S.S.E. 
As  Ger  Tor  is  in  full  view,  although  presenting  no  imposing  appearance 
from  this  side,  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  reaching  it.  The  rambler 
will  probably  strike  the  green  path  that  comes  up  from  Lane  End 
(T.  20)  on  his  way.  The  road  to  Lane  End  from  Tavistock  has  already 
been  described  (Ex.  9),  and  it  now  remains  to  sketch  the  route  from 
that  point  to  Tavy  Cleave.  If  the  rambler  decides  to  make  his  way 
up  through  the  cleave,  which  is  really  the  best  way  of  seeing  it,  he  will 
turn  R.  at  Lane  End  and  follow  the  track  by  the  hedge  past  Nat  Tor 
Farm.  He  will  then  turn  up  the  slope  L.,  and  crossing  the  mine  leat 
at  Nat  Tor  Bridge,  find  himself  close  to  the  rocks  of  Nat  Tor.  Here 
a  tiny  enclosure  of  the  kind  formerly  built  by  the  herdsmen  near  the 
tors,  will  be  noticed,  the  entrance  jambs  yet  standing.  The  leat  will 
now  become  the  rambler's  guide,  and  he  will  follow  it  to  the  weir, 
obtaining  a  grand  view  of  Ger  Tor  as  he  passes  across  the  foot  of  the 
clatter  that  descends  from  it  to  the  Tavy.  From  the  weir,  or  Devil's 
Point,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  the  river  is  traced  upward  to  the 


40  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

Rattle  Brook.  The  Tavy  Cleave  Tors  are  seen  to  great  advantage 
from  the  river  bank  ;  nothing  quite  of  the  same  character  is  to  be  met 
with  on  any  other  part  of  Dartmoor.  The  strip  of  ground  at  the  foot 
of  the  clatter  gradually  narrows  as  the  rambler  approaches  the  head  of 
the  defile  until  it  disappears  altogether,  when  he  has  to  make  the  best 
of  his  way  over  the  boulders  that  completely  cover  the  side  of  the  steep 
hill  and  stream  down  into  the  river.  The  return  from  Rattle  Brook 
Foot  to  Lane  End  is  sketched  in  S.  Ex.  27. 

Ger  Tor  is  easily  reached  from  Lane  End,  from  which  point  it  is 
in  sight,  and  only  £  m.  distant.  Part  way  up  the  hill  the  mine  leat  is 
crossed  at  a  bridge,  the  situation  of  which  can  be  descerned  from  the 
gate.  The  view  of  the  cleave  from  this  tor  is  very  striking,  and  the 
pile  itself,  though  not  rising  to  a  great  height  above  the  turf,  is  never- 
theless a  fine  cluster  of  rocks.  That  its  true  name  is  Great  Tor,  as  some 
have  supposed  (Ger,  or  rather  Gert,  being  simply  the  moorman's  way  of 
pronouncing  the  word),  is,  I  think,  highly  improbable.  Between  the 
tor  and  the  Tavy  Cleave  group  the  hill  falls  back,  forming,  as  it  were, 
a  huge  amphitheatre.  As  the  visitor  passes  from  one  to  the  other  he 
will  notice  a  reave  having  much  the  appearance  of  a  stone  row,  and 
near  it  are  hut  circles.  Other  remains  also  occur  hard  by,  and  at  the 
foot  of  the  slope  on  the  river  bank  are  the  evidences  of  ancient  mining 
operations.  Near  the  rock  group  is  Green  Gert,  which  is  covered  with 
velvety  turf.] 

Leaving  the  Tavy  Cleave  Tors  we  shall  make  our  way  along  the 
side  of  the  hill  in  a  N.E.  direction,  with  the  defile  on  the  R.  for  about 
\  m.,  when  we  shall  see  below  us  the  great  bend  of  the  Tavy.  It  is 
here  that  it  receives  the  Rattle  Brook,  which  flows  from  the  N.,  and' 
to  this  stream  we  descend.  Crossing  it  we  mount  the  slope  of  Watern 
Oke  (Ex.  12),  and  following  the  course  of  the  Tavy  upward,  and  keeping 
it  in  view,  we  shall  soon  be  led  to  a  cluster  of  hut  circles  in  the  midst 
of  a  clatter.  These  were  thoroughly  explored  in  the  summer  of  1905 
by  the  Rev.  Irvine  K.  Anderson,  Rector  of  Mary  Tavy,  who  encamped 
here.  For  many  weeks  men  were  engaged  in  digging  into  the  hut 
circles  under  his  personal  superintendence,  and  the  work  was  thoroughly 
carried  out.  Flint,  and  fragments  of  pottery,  charcoal,  and  the  usual 
cooking-stones,  were  found,  but  no  object  of  any  exceptional  interest. 

On  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Tavy,  on  the  slope  of  Knoll,  a  hill 
sometimes  called  Outer  Standon,  and  erroneously  shown  as  Watern 
Oke  on  a  map  made  from  a  survey  of  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  is  a  large  mound,  apparently  thrown  up  by  the  tinners.  At 
one  time  they  were  busy  here,  as  the  extensive  remains  of  their  workings 
attest.  The  moormen  do  not,  however,  connect  this  mound  with  them, 
but  regard  it  as  having  formed  a  kind  of  stronghold,  and  give  to  it  the 
name  of  Lord  Mayor's  Castle.  A  little  further  up  the  Tavy  the  tribu- 
tary called  Homer  Red  Lake,  mentioned  in  Ex.  10,  comes  down  from 
the  S.  through  Red  Lake  Combe,  and  immediately  below  the  confluence 
is  a  ford.  An  upright  stone  will  be  noticed  on  the  R.  bank  of  the  river. 
It  is  a  bondmark  connected  with  the  peat  works  at  Rattle  Brook  Head 
(Ex.  12).  That  part  of  the  moor  between  Homer  and  Outer  Red  Lake 
is  known  as  the  Meads. 

[EXTENSION  TO  Fur  Tor  and  Cut  Hill,  5-}  m.  From  this  point 
Fur  Tor  and  Cut  Hill  may  be  conveniently  reached  ;  the  former  is 


EXTENSION    TO   FUR   TOR    AND   CUT    HILL.  41 

about  1 1  m.  distant  ;  the  latter  i  m.  further.  We  pass  up  the  valley 
to  the  confluence  of  the  Tavy  and  the  Amicombe  (barely  4-  m),  where 
there  is  a  crossing-place  called  Sandy  Ford.  The  Tavy  comes  down 
from  Tavy  Hole  (R.  3)  from  the  S.,  to  the  W.  of  it  being  Red  Lake  Hill, 
at  the  top  of  which  is  Brook's  Head  (Ex.  10)  £  m.  distant.  The  Ami- 
combe flows  from  the  N.E.,  and  it  is  this  stream  that  we  must  follow. 
To  make  a  beeline  for  Fur  Tor  would  lead  us  over  some  rather  bad 
ground,  and  it  is  therefore  far  better  to  go  up  stream  for  about  -i-  m. 
to  Amicombe  Bend,  where  the  river  receives  the  Cut  Combe  Water, 
choosing  a  path  either  on  the  R.  or  L.  bank.  It  is  not  necessary  to  go 

Black  Hill.  Fur  Tor. 


The  Tavy. 
FROM   WATERN   OKE,    LOOKING   E. 

quite  so  far  as  the  bend  ;  we  may  make  our  way  up  the  stony  hillside 
to  the  tor  when  we  find  ourselves  abreast  of  it.  Fur  Tor  is  perhaps 
the  grandest  of  the  Dartmoor  tors,  for  while  there  are  some  that  rise 
much  higher  above  the  ground  than  the  loftiest  of  the  piles  here,  and 
also  exhibit  finer  rock  masses,  there  is  not  one  that  covers  so  large  an 
area,  or  whose  surrounding  are  of  the  desolate  character  as  those 
upon  which  this  lonely  tor  looks  down.  Fur  Tor  is  a  wilderness  of 
stone.  Masses  of  grey  rock  stud  the  slopes  that  sweep  down  to  the 
Amicombe  and  its  tributaiy  stream.  On  one  side  the  rambler  may 
wander  amid  innumberable  lumps  of  granite,  each  a  miniature  tor,  as 
in  a  maze.  The  larger  masses  of  this  tor  form  two  distinct  groups, 
one  overlooking  the  great  Amicombe  Hill  that  extends  away  to  the  N., 
the  other  being  E.  of  this,  and  nearer  Cut  Combe.  We  shall  find  the 
first  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  shall  notice  that  it  consists  of  six  piles 
of  fairly  large  size  and  several  smaller  ones.  From  this  we  make  our 
way  across  the  level  piece  of  ground,  where  rocks  give  place  to  grass 
and  rushes,  to  the  eastern  group,  which  is  the  more  important  of  the 
two.  Here  are  four  piles,  the  chief  of  which  has  a  very  striking  appear- 
ance. On  the  highest  part  of  it  are  three  rock  basins,  one  being  so 
near  the  edge  of  the  granite  mass  as  to  render  the  result  of  the  action 
of  the  water  in  the  wearing  away  of  the  stone  visible  from  the  ground. 
On  the  western  side  of  this  tor  an  immense  block  of  granite  will  be 
observed  hanging,  as  it  were,  midway  between  the  summit  and  the 
turf,  and  another  similar  block  lies  on  the  ground  near  by.  The  time 
must  come  when  this  immense  stone  will  topple  over  ;  the  tor  is  slowly 
going  to  ruin.  Below  it,  on  the  Cut  Combe  side,  is  a  spot  known  to 


42  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

the  moormen  as  Fur  Tor  Wood.  The  name  seems  to  point  to  the 
former  existence  of  trees  in  this  sheltered  hollow,  and  the  discovery 
some  years  ago  of  oak  buried  in  the  peat  near  Little  Kneeset  prove* 
that  they  once  grew  around  here.  (For  an  extended  description  of 
Fur  Tor  see  Gems,  Chap.  II.) 

Leaving  Fur  Tor  we  shall  make  our  way  to  Cut  Hill,  the  summit 
of  which  is  J  m.  distant  in  an  E.S.E.  direction,  but  our  walk  thither 
will  extend  to  about  i  m.,  as  we  sweep  to  the  R.  in  order  to  avoid 
descending  into  Cut  Combe.  We  keep  along  the  edge  of  this,  which 
lies  L.  ;  on  our  R.,  i.e.,  to  the  S.W.  and  S.,  the  ground  sinks  down  to  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Tavy  (R.  3).  A  great  part  of  this  hillside  consists 
of  fen,  but  it  does  not  extend  quite  to  the  edge  of  the  combe,  so  that 
our  progress  throughout  will  be  over  fairly  good  ground.  From  Cut 
Hill,  which  rises  to  a  height  of  1,981  feet,  a  view  of  the  solitary  parts  of 
the  forest  is  commanded  such  as  can  be  obtained  from  no  other  point 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  moor,  though  for  wonder- 
ful glimpses  of  the  great  waste  Siddaford  will  by  some  perhaps  be 
regarded  as  its  equal.  We  have  already  described  the  view  from  the 
summit  of  North  Hisworthy  (Princetown  District],  but  this  from  Cut 
Hill  is  altogether  wilder  in  its  character.  In  the  former  very  much 
that  man  has  done  is  visible  ;  but  here,  except  for  the  distant  Prince- 
town,  and  the  enclosures  of  Teign  Head  Farm,  hardly  a  sign  of  his 
work  on  the  waste  is  apparent.  Something  of  what  lies  beyond  the 
moor  is  seen,  notably  towards  the  west,  and  where  the  hills  part  ta 
form  a  passage  for  the  West  Ockment  to  the  north,  and  again  towards 
the  east.  But  it  is  far  away,  and  forms  but  a  small  part  of  the  picture. 
We  look  upon  desolation  ;  upon  a  vast  wilderness,  from  which  life  is 
absent. 

Among  the  tors  and  hills  seen  from  this  lofty  spot,  the  following 
are  the  principal :  From  W.  to  N.  :  Standon  Hill,  Ger  Tor,  the  Tavy 
Cleave  Tors,  and  to  the  R.  of  these,  on  the  great  ridge  running  N.  and 
S.  beyond  the  Rattle  Brook,  Hare  Tor,  Sharp  Tor,  Chat  Tor,  the 
Dunnagoat  Tors,  and  Great  Links  Tor  ;  Amicombe  Hill,  with  Kitty 
Tor  towards  its  northern  end,  and  distant  about  3^  m.  ;  quite  near  to 
us  is  Fur  Tor,  and  to  the  R.  of  it,  further  away,  Little  Kneeset,  and  i  m. 
beyond  this  Great  Kneeset ;  a  little  to  the  L-  of  the  latter  we  look 
down  the  valley  of  the  West  Ockment,  with  Lints  Tor  at  its  head  ; 
on  the  R.  side  of  the  valley  we  see  Black  Tor,  below  which,  though 
hidden  from  us,  is  the  Island  of  Rocks  (Ex.  14),  with  High  Willes,  the 
loftiest  point  on  Dartmoor,  towering  above  it ;  to  the  R.  in  succession 
we  see  Yes  Tor,  West  Mil  Tor,  and  Row  Tor,  about  3  m.  beyond  which 
lies  the  town  of  Okehampton.  The  view  from  N.  to  E.  is  blocked  by 
the  high  ground  beyond  the  East  Dart,  the  upper  valley  of  which  we 
look  down  upon.  L.  of  its  source  wre  see  Black  Hill,  and  R.  of  it  the 
hill  named  Newtake  (Cranmere  routes  5),  4  m.  beyond  which  we  observe 
the  summit  of  the  great  rounded  mass  of  Cosdon.  Over  White  Horse 
Hill,  N.E.,  the  distant  farm  lands  are  visible.  From  E.  to  S.  :  A  little 
N.  of  E.,  and  rather  over  2  m.  distant,  is  Siddaford  Tor,  quite  close  to 
which  are  the  circles  known  as  the  Grey  Wethers  (Exs.  20,  45)  ;  to  the 
R.  of  this  tor  is  a  fine  view  of  the  great  ridge  of  Hameldon,  7  m.  away, 
and  to  the  R.  of  that  Saddle  Tor,  with  the  fiontier  height  of  Rippon 
Tor  ;  still  further  R.  is  Buckland  Beacon,  and  almost  in  a  line  with  it, 
but  nearer  to  us,  Corndon  Tor  and  Yar  Tor  ;  Bellaford  Tor,  5  m.  to 


<£> .  EXTENSIONS 


HILL 


~  TO  EXCURSIONS  11, W. 


44  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

the  S.E.,  we  look  down  upon,  as  we  do  also  upon  Row  Tor,  near  the 
West  Dart,  Higher  White  Tor,  and  the  conical  Longaford,  above  Wist- 
man's  Wood  (Ex.  5)  ;  far  away  to  the  S.  are  Eastern  and  Western 
Whitaburrow,  on  the  verge  of  Brent  Moor,  and  the  lofty  Three  Barrows, 
that  looks  out  over  the  South  Hams  (Brent  and  Ivybridge  District)  ; 
R.  of  these,  and  very  much  nearer,  is  North  Hisworthy,  seen  over  the 
crest  of  Maiden  Hill,  the  latter  being  only  2  m.  away.  From  S.  to  W.  : 
4^  m.  as  the  crow  flies  the  rocks  of  Great  Mis  Tor  rise  against  the  sky 
S?VV*.  by  S.  ;  to  the  R.  and  beyond  it,  is  Great  Staple  Tor  and  Roose 
Tor,  backed  by  Cocks'  Tor  Hill ;  R.  of  this  is  White  Tor,  above  Waps- 
worthy  (Ex.  10),  and  still  further  R.  Linch  Tor,  and  the  great  hill  of 
Standon. 

(As  in  the  case  of  the  description  of  the  view  from  North  His- , 
worthy  Tor  (Princetown  District),  the  reader  is  directed  to  the  index 
for  references  to  the  hills  and  tors  here  named). 

The  summit  of  Cut  Hill  is  crowned  with  a  low  mound  of  turf,  which, 
although  rising  but  a  few  feet  above  the  surface,  is  yet  seen  very 
distinctly  even  from  a  great  distance.  On  the  N.  side  of  the  hill  the 
fain  has  washed  away  vast  quantities  of  peat,  in  one  place  to  such  an 
extent  that  at  first  glance  the  visitor  might  be  inclined  to  imagine  it 
had  been  removed  by  manual  labour.  Below  this  the  hill  is  covered 
with  a  network  of  gullies  scooped  cut  by  the  rain,  some  of  them  very 
deep,  and  this,  too,  is  the  character  of  the  ground  that  extends  north- 
ward over  Platters,  and  Black  Ridge,  and  beyond  Cranmere.  On  the 
E.  side  of  the  hill  the  ground  is  of  a  similar  nature,  and  also  on  the  S. 
as  far  as  the  springs  of  the  Cowsic  (Ex.  5).  On  the  W.  side,  which 
overlooks  Cut  Combe,  the  ground  is  firm  and  covered  with  turf. 

(The  route  from  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges  to  Cut  Hill  is  for 
the  first  few  miles  over  ground  that  has  already  been  described  (Ex.  5). 
The  rambler  may  make  his  way  from  the  head  of  the  Cowsic,  as  in 
R.  3,  to  the  Tavy,  but  steering  due  N.,  and  trace  it  to  its  source,  which 
is  on  the  S.  side  of  Cut  Hill.  The  springs  of  this  river  are  in  a  shallow 
hollow  in  the  midst  of  the  fen,  and  from  this  the  summit  of  the  hill  is 
about  %  m.  distant,  N.N.E.  Another  way  is  by  Bear  Down,  as  in 
Ex.  5.  If  this  is  chosen  the  rambler  will  leave  Lydford  Tor  I/.,  and 
will  steer  N.  with  the  Foxholes  Water  close  on  his  R.,  to  Row  Tor, 
thence  descending  to  the  West  Dart,  E.,  which  he  will  follow  to  its 
source.  Or  he  may  pass  up  from  Two  Bridges  by  Wistman's  Wood 
(Ex.  5),  and  then  follow  the  Dart  upward.  Cut  Hill  is  £•  in.  N.N.W. 
•of  West  Dart  Head.  Whichever  way  the  rambler  chooses  the  last 
\  m.  will  be  across  the  fen,  but  he  will  find  no  difficulty  in  making  his 
"way  over  it  in  fair  weather. 

The  return  routes  from  Cut  Hill  to  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges 
may  be  briefly  described,  as  it  is  only  necessary  to  bring  the  rambler 
to  the  sources  of  the  Cowsic  and  the  West  Dart.  For  Princetown 
direct  he  will  first  make  his  way  to  Tavy  Head,  which  can  be  plainly 
seen  from  the  summit  of  the  hill ;  it  lies  S.S.W.,  and  -\  m.  distant. 
On  reaching  it  the  stream  should  be  kept  R.,  and  followed  for  about 
^  m.  Here  it  begins  to  bend  R.,  Cowsic  Head,  which  cannot,  however, 
be  seen,  being  rather  over  \  m.  from  this  point  L.  The  rambler's  course 
now  is  due  S.  over  the  low  ridge  between  the  upper  waters  of  the  two 
streams.  He  is  still  on  the  fen,  and  the  ground  consequently  anything 
but  good.  It  is  of  that  spongy  character  which  renders  progress  over 


EXTENSION   TO    FUR   TOR    AND   CUT   HILL.  45 

it  rather  slow.  But  the  Cowsic  is  not  far  off,  and  as  soon  as  its  banks 
are  reached  firmer  ground  is  found.  The  stream  is  followed  to  Travellers' 
Ford,  about  i  m.  from  its  source,  from  which  point  instructions  are 
given  for  reaching  both  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges  in  Ex.  5,  Part  I. 
(P.  T.,  6£  m.  ;  T.B.,  5*  m.) 

For  Two  Bridges  the  best  way  is  by  the  valley  of  the  West  Dart. 
Longaford  Tor,  which  overlooks  it,  can  be  plainly  seen  from  Cut  Hill, 
3  m.  distant  in  a  straight  line.  The  rambler  may  take  this  for  his 
guide  ;  it  lies  S.S.E.  of  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  by  following  that 
course  for  £  m.  he  will  be  led  to  the  springs  of  the  West  Dart.  In 
tracing  the  river  downward  keep  it  on  the  R.  (Ex.  5).  If  the  rambler 
wishes  to  go  by  way  of  Bear  Down  he  will  leave  the  river  L.,  and  make 
southward  for  Row  Tor,  i  m.  below  its  source.  Then,  still  proceeding 
southward,  he  will  keep  the  Foxholes  Water  L.,  and  make  towards 
Lydford  Tor,  i£  m.  S.S.W.  of  Row  Tor.  This  he  leaves  R.,  and  steering 
S.  will  reach  Bear  Down  Farm,  and  the  road  near  Two  Bridges.  The 
distances  by  these  routes  are  a  little  less  than  by  the  former. 

(The  route  to  Cut  Hill  from  Post  Bridge  is  described  in  that  District 
(Ex.  46,  Part  I),  and  there  are  also  directions  for  reaching  it  in  the 
Cranmere  Routes,  C.R.  3). 

Making  our  way  down  the  N.  side  of  the  hill  we  soon  reach  Cut 
Lane  (T.  79),  and  the  two  guide-stones  mentioned  in  our  notice  of  that 
ancient  path  in  Part  V.  Here  we  turn  L.,  and  following  the  directions 
there  given,  shall  shortly  find  ourselves  below  Fur  Tor,  and  between 
it  and  Little  Kneeset.  On  the  R.  bank  of  the  Cut  Combe  Water, 
which  will  be  on  our  L-  as  we  approach  it,  and  close  to  where  it  receives 
a  little  feeder  from  the  E.,  we  may  observe  the  foundations  of  a  small 
structure  which  has  much  the  appearance  of  the  remains  of  a  herds- 
man's hut.  Little  Kneeset  (1,694  feet)  is  a  fine  hill  of  good  hard 
ground,  covered  with  grass,  and  free  from  heather.  It  is  peninsulated 
by  the  Cut  Combe  Water  and  the  feeder  above  alluded  to  on  its  S. 
side,  and  by  a  tributary  of  the  Amicombe  on  the  north.  This  tribu- 
tary, it  may  be  well  to  observe,  together  with  the  lower  part  of  the 
Amicombe,  is  sometimes  regarded  as  the  Tavy,  and  thus  it  has  been 
said  that  this  river  rises  near  Cranmere.  Little  Kneeset  forms  a  ridge, 
and  springs  off  westward  from  Black  Hill  (Cranmere  Routes).  When 
we  look  at  the  sheltered  situation  of  Cut  Combe,  and  the  grass  on  Little 
Kneeset,  and  the  slopes  of  Fur  Tor,  as  well  as  on  Amicombe  Hill,  we 
shall  hardly  wonder  that  this  part  of  the  north  quarter  of  the  forest 
has  always  been  in  favour  as  a  pasturage  ground.  More  than  five 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  we  read  of  the  Preda  de  Vurtorre  and  the 
Preda  de  Aunnacombe,  and  cattle  have  been  agisted  here  ever  since. 

Passing  out  of  the  great  combe,  the  entrance  to  which  is  formed  by 
the  slopes  of  Little  Kneeset  and  Fur  Tor,  we  speedily  reach  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Cut  Combe  Water  and  the  Amicombe.  On  the  L.  bank 
of  the  latter  is  another  good  stretch  of  grazing  ground,  known  as 
Pinswell,  but  perhaps  our  best  plan  will  be  to  cress  the  stream,  and 
make  our  way  down  the  R.  bank.  \  m.  below  it  joins  the  Tavy  at 
Sandy  Ford,  and  a  little  further  down  the  united  stream  receives 
Outer  Red  Lake,  at  which  point  we  set  out  on  this  excursion.] 

Turning  from  the  Tavy  by  the  peat  boundary  stone,  we  pass  up 
over  Watern  Oke  in  a  direction  rather  W.  of  N.,  and  at  the  distance 


46  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

-of  less  than  a  mile  shall  come  upon  a  very  high  tumulus  above  the  L. 
bank  of  the  Rattle  Brook,  which  has  more  the  appearance  of  having 
been  thrown  up  by  miners  than  of  an  ancient  mound.  Near  to  this, 
on  the  bank  of  the  brook,  is  a  group  of  hut  circles,  and  further  up  stream 
there  are  others.  We  cross  the  Rattle  Brook  at  a  fording-place  just 
above  where  the  Green  Tor  Water  and  the  Scad  fall  into  it,  and  make 
our  way  up  the  side  of  Rattle  Brook  Hill  to  Chat  Tor,  with  Ker  Beam 
on  the  L.  Chat  Tor  is  W.  by  N.  of  the  ford,  and  £  m.  from  it.  It 
consists  of  a  single  mass  of  rock,  and  is  shown  on  a  Duchy  map  as 
Loaf,  which,  judging  from  its  character,  is  probably  its  ancient  name, 
i.e.,  Llof  (cf.  Branscombe's  Loaf,  Ex.  13). 

We  pass  over  the  ridge,  bearing  a  little  S.  of  W.,  and  descend  the 
hill  to  Foxhole,  a  combe  which  has  been  extensively  streamed  for  tin, 
and  which  also  has  been  the  scene  of  more  modern  mining  operations, 
as  the  ruins  of  a  building  will  attest.  Through  this  valley,  a  favourite 
spot  with  whoitleberry  gatherers,  runs  the  Doe  Tor  Brook,  its  source 
being  at  the  head  of  it,  where  is  the  spring  known  as  Dick's  Well 
(T.  28,  Ex.  12).  We  strike  the  brook  at  Doe  Tor  Bend,  where  the 
stream  suddenly  changes  its  southern  course  for  a  westerly  one.  Here 
we  cross  it,  and  pass  down  the  R.  bank,  with  Doe  Tor,  a  small  pile 
which  presents  nothing  remarkable,  a  short  distance  to  the  I,.  Very 
soon  we  shall  reach  Doe  Tor  Falls,  a  most  charming  cascade,  hidden 
away  in  a  narrow  rift.  Above  us  on  the  R.  is  Bra  Tor,  on  which  is  a 
fine  cross,  about  1 3  feet  in  height,  erected  by  the  late  Mr.  W.  Widgery, 
the  well-known  artist,  in  commemoration  of  the  Jubilee  of  Queen 
Victoria,  in  1887.  Unlike  the  ancient  crosses  of  the  moor  this  one  is 
not  hewn  from  a  single  stone,  but  is  composed  of  a  number  of  blocks. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  XI.]  Seen  from  any  point  this  cross  seems  perfectly 
in  place,  but  appears  to  the  best  advantage  when  viewed  from  the 
valley  of  the  I/yd,  below  the  confluence  of  that  stream  with  the  Doe 
Tor  Brook.  As  Ger  Tor  has  been  supposed  by  some,  but  without 
much  reason,  to  be  a  corruption  of  Great  Tor,  so  there  are  those  who 
similarly  imagine  Bra  Tor  to  be  properly  Broad  Tor.  It  is  only 
necessary  to  state  that  an  early  form  of  the  name  is  Brat  Tor  ;  it 
appears  in  a  document  of  Henry  VIII's  time  as  Brattor. 

Near  the  entrance  to  Doe  Tor  Farm,  to  which  a  track  leads,  we 
leave  the  brook  a  little  to  the  I/.,  and  passing  down  through  the  disused 
workings  of  Wheal  Mary  Emma  shall  reach  a  ford  on  the  Lyd,  where 
there  are  some  stepping-stones.  Just  below  this  on  the  bank  of  the 
stream  are  the  foundations  of  a  building  of  the  blowing-house  type. 

Crossing  the  Lyd  at  the  ford  we  shall  follow  the  track  leading  from 
it  across  High  Down  to  the  moor  gate  near  the  Dartmoor  Inn  (T.  27), 
to  which  a  walk  of  about  4-  m.  will  bring  us.  An  alternative  route  to 
the  village  will  lead  us  down  the  right  bank  of  the  Lyd.  Below  the 
point  where  the  Doe  Tor  Brook  falls  into  it  we  shall  pass  a  clam  where 
a  path  leads  to  the  farm,  and  below  this  and  near  Doe  Tor  Gate  Ford, 
is  the  confluence  of  the  Lyd  and  the  Walla  Brook.  Here  a  track  runs 
up  the  hill  R.  from  the  ford,  and  this  we  follow  for  \  m.  to  Doe  Tor 
Gate  opening  on  a  lane  (T.  27).  Here  there  are  four  large  granite 
slabs,  one  of  them  having  a  socket  in  it  for  the  reception  of  the  stanchion 
of  the  gate,  which,  however,  is  now  hung  on  hinges.  (See  Gate  in 
Terms  Section).  Passing  onward  we  soon  reach  the  high  road,  and 
crossing  this  shall  make  our  way  by  Skit  Lane  to  the  village. 


EXCURSION  12.       THE    DUNNAGOAT   TORS.  47 

Ex.  12. — The  Dunnagoat  Tors,  Great  Links  Tor,  The  Rattle  Brook, 
Kitty  Tor,  Amicombe  Hill,  Upper  Valley  of  the  Lyd,  j\  m.  Add  i-J-  m. 
if  from  and  to  the  village. 

Starting  from  the  gate  near  the  Dartmoor  Inn  we  shall  follow  the 
track  already  described  (T.  28),  passing  up  between  Arms  Tor  L.  and 
Bra  Tor  R.,  to  Dick's  Well,  a  distance  of  about  2  m.  Although  Arms 
Tor  (1,411  feet)  does  not  rise  to  a  great  height  above  the  ground,  it  is 
nevertheless  rather  striking  in  appearance,  particularly  when  viewed 
from  the  slope  of  Noddon  (Ex.  13),  across  the  valley  of  the  Lyd.  The 
Doe  Tor  Brook  has  its  source  a  few  yards  S.  of  the  boundary  stone, 
but  time  was  when  the  stream  rose  at  its  foot.  Ere  it  has  gone  long 
on  its  way  it  runs  among  extensive  workings  of  the  tinners,  across  a 
part  of  which  we  passed  on  our  way  from  Rattle  Brook  Hill  to  the 
Lyd  (Ex.  ii ). 

Near  Dick's  Well  a  branch  track  leads  R.  to  Rattle  Brook  Mine, 
which  ceased  working  many  years  ago,  the  main  one  bearing  L.  at  the 
junction,  and  reaching  the  stream  a  little  higher  up.  But  we  shall 
leave  the  track  at  the  bondstone,  and  make  our  way  to  the  two  tors, 
about  i  m.  off,  N.E.  by  E.  These  are  known  as  Higher  Dunnagoat 
Tor  (1,845  feet)  and  Lower  Dunnagoat  Tor  (1,832  feet),  and  overhang 
the  Rattle  Brook.  On  the  further  .side  of  this  is  Green  Tor  (1,774  feet), 
E.  of  which  rises  the  Green  Tor  Water  (Ex.  1 1 ),  a  tributary  of  the 
brook  named,  and  having  a  course  of  about  i  m.  Not  very  far  from 
the  tor  are  the  walls  of  a  building  erected  in  connection  with  some  peat 
works  further  up  the  Rattle  Brook,  but  which  were  only  in  operation 
for  a  short  time.  It  is  now  known  as  Bleak  House,  a  name  which  its 
situation  on  a  bare  moor  at  an  elevation  of  1,740  feet,  renders  very 
appropriate.  Mr.  Richard  John  King  says  that  Dunnagoat,  or  Dana- 
goat,  as  it  is  sometimes  spelt,  is  "  from  the  Cornish  dan,  under,  and 
coet,  a  wood."*  He  takes  the  name  to  belong  to  a  hollow.  But  we 
incline  to  think  it  more  probable  that  in  the  first  syllable  of  the  name 
we  see  the  Celtic  dun,  a  hill,  and  if  the  second  really  is  coet,  or  coed, 
that  this  may  have  been  derived  from  the  former  presence  of  trees  in 
the  valley  of  the  Rattle  Brook.  Even  now  in  parts  of  it  a  solitary 
rowan,  or  oak,  is  to  be  met  with. 

Our  steps  will  now  lead  us  to  Great  Links  Tor  (1,908  feet),  about 
i  m.  to  the  W.N.W.,  and  which  we  shall  find  to  be  a  grand  and  imposing 
cluster  of  rocks,  the  several  piles  rising  to  a  great  height  above  the  turf. 
Though  its  form  is  not  so  suggestive  of  a  ruined  castle  as  is  that  of  Hey 
Tor,  when  viewed  from  certain  points,  such  a  resemblance  is  not 
altogether  wanting,  particularly  when  it  is  seen  from  the  slope  of  Gibbet 
Hill  on  Black  Down  (Ex.  9).  Looked  at  from  anywhere  it  is  striking, 
but  perhaps  creates  the  greatest  interest  when  the  rambler  to  Cranmere, 
from  the  Chagford  side,  or  from  the  East  Dart  Valley,  sees  it  standing 
up  sharply  against  the  sky  as  he  approaches  the  piece  of  fen  surround- 
ing the  pool.  For  some  time  previously,  particularly  if  from  the  Dart 
Valley,  he  has  seen  nothing  ahead  of  him  but  dreary  looking  peat 
ridges  covered  with  bog-grass,  when  suddenly  the  rocks  of  Links  Tor, 
3^  m.  away,  come  into  view,  and  lift  themselves  higher  with  each 
step  he  takes  until  they  are  fully  revealed  beyond  the  wide  slope  of 

*  The  Forest  of  Dartmoor  and  its  Borders.     An  Historical  Sketch 

<i856). 


48  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

Amiconibe.  The  view  commanded  from  the  tor  is  of  a  verv  fine 
character.  Much  of  the  moor  is  seen  in  one  direction,  and  an  extensive 
range  of  country  which  the  husbandman  has  brought  into  subjection 
in  the  other.  High  Willes  and  Yes  Tor  (Ex.  15)  are  seen  to  the  N.E. 
and  away  to  the  S.E.,  with  only  Amicombe  between,  the  rocks  of  lonely 
Fur  Tor  (Ex.  1 1),  crowning  the  great  grassy  hill  that  rises  from  the  fen. 
Against  the  western  sky  the  loftiest  hills  of  Cornwall  uplift  themselves, 
and  when  the  sun  shines  upon  it  there  is  a  glimpse  of  the  sea,  over  which 
the  warders  looked  out  in  the  old  days  from  the  walls  of  Tintagel. 
Mr.  King  derives  the  name  of  this  tor,  which  he  renders  Lynx,  from 
lynnek,  or  lynnic,  wet,  marshy,  but  we  fail  to  see  any  justification  for 
this.  On  one  side  of  the  tor  there  is  a  small  hollow — a  niche  hewn  by 
Nature  in  the  great  wall  of  granite.  Little  Links  Tor  is  merely  a  small 
pile  on  the  side  of  the  hill  to  the  N.W. 

[Should  the  visitor  wish  to  make  his  way  direct  to  Great  Links 
Tor  he  cannot  do  better,  after  crossing  the  Lyd,  than  ascend  Arms  Tor, 
from  which  point  Links  Tor  is  in  full  view  |  in.  to  E.N.E.  On  the  way 
he  will  pass  a  small  circular  enclosure.] 

From  Great  Links  Tor  we  strike  E.N.E.  to  the  bridge  over  the 
Rattle  Brook  leading  to  the  peat  works,  %  m.  distant,  and  in  view  as 
we  descend.  These  works  were  established  in  1878,  and  the  railway 
from  Bridestowe  Station  for  the  conveyance  of  the  peat  was  cut  in  the 
following  year.  Operations  did  not  continue  very  long,  nor  have  the 
endeavours  to  re-start  them  that  have  more  than  once  been  made, 
met  with  great  success.  We  cross  the  bridge,  noticing  Hunt  Tor  (1,843 
feet),  a  large  mass  of  rock,  on  the  L.,  and  passing  the  peat  buildings 
make  our  way  E.N.E.  to  Kitty  Tor,  •§•  m.  distant.  This  tor  does  not 
rise  high  above  the  ground,  but  stands  in  such  an  elevated  situation 
that  its  altitude  is  equal  to,  if  not  greater  than,  that  of  Great  Links 
Tor.  The  Ordnance  Map  gives  the  height  of  the  latter  as  1908  feet,  as 
already  stated,  and  the  height  of  Kitty  Tor  as  i  ,920  feet,  but  I  cannot 
say  on  what  parts  of  the  tors  these  levels  were  taken.  Kitty  Tor  stands 
near  the  northern  end  of  Amicombe  Hill,  which  large  tract  of  pasturage 
ground  extends  from  Watern  Oke  on  the  S.  to  the  forest  boundary  line, 
marked  by  Stinka  Tor,  on  the  N.  On  the  W.  it  is  bounded  by  the 
Rattle  Brook,  and  on  the  E.  by  the  head  waters  of  the  Amicombe  and 
the  West  Ockment  from  Kneeset  Foot  to  Sandy  Ford.  Watern  Oke 
is  really  a  part  of  the  hill,  and  forms  its  southern  extremity,  extending 
from  the  lower  waters  of  the  Rattle  Brook  to  Amicombe  Bend  (Ex.  1 1 ). 
A  number  of  weird  stories  attach  to  Amicombe  Hill.  Fires  are  some- 
times seen  there  at  night,  lighted,  it  has  been  said,  by  the  Evil  One,  who 
keeps  watch  over  the  men  of  Tavistock  and  Okehampton,  between 
whom  there  was  formerly  a  deadly  feud.  Satan,  ever  on  the  lookout 
for  mischief,  is  supposed  to  be  waiting  an  opportunity  to  stir  up  the 
old  enmity. 

Stinka  Tor  is  about  \  m.  northward  of  Kitty  Tor,  and  is  noticed 
in  our  next  excursion  (Ex.  13). 

Leaving  Kitty  Tor  we  retrace  our  steps  to  the  bridge  at  the  peat 
works,  or  we  may  follow  the  track  (T.  30)  that  runs  close  by  it,  to  Rattle 
Brook  Head,  and  Hunt  Tor,  on  the  side  of  Woodcock  Hill.  In  the 
former  case  we  pass  from  the  Rattle  Brook  up  the  incline  of  the  peat 
railway  for  about  •}  m.,  where  it  bends  R.,  when  we  leave  it  and  steer 
a  little  N.  of  W.,  and  descend  towards  the  Lyd.  If  the  latter  route  be 


EXCURSION  13.     NODDON  GATE.     THE  KING  WAY.         49 

chosen,  we  shall,  on  leaving  Hunt  Tor,  strike  W.  by  S.,  and  crossing 
the  railway  also  make  towards  the  Lyd.  In  either  case  the  summit  of 
Noddon  (Ex.  13),  the  rounded  hill  rising  on  the  further  side  of  the 
river,  should  be  taken  as  a  guide.  We  should  strike  the  Lyd  where  a 
small  tributary  flowing  from  the  E.  falls  into  it,  where  it  runs  by  , 
the  foot  of  the  steep  slope  of  Noddon.  The  valley  here  is  very  fine,  U' 
and  remains  of  a  former  day  are  not  wanting  to  add  interest  to  it.  '  . 
Just  below  the  confluence,  and  on  the  L.  bank  of  the  Lyd,  is  a  fine 
group  of  hut  circles,  and  a  small  circular  pound.  We  pass  down  by 
the  river  with  Arms  Tor  above  us  on  the  L.,  and  at  the  distance  of  £•  m. 
shall  reach  the  steps  at  Noddon  Ford  below  Noddon  Gate  (Ex.  13,  T. 
29).  On  the  hillside  to  the  L.  another  group  of  hut  circles  will  be 
found,  which,  from  their  proximity  to  Arms  Tor,  are  sometimes  referred 
to  as  Arms  Tor  Rings,  -i-  m.  below  the  steps  we  reach  High  Down 
Ford,  where  we  shall  cross  the  stream,  and  following  the  track  shall 
soon  find  ourselves  at  the  gate  near  the  Dartmoor  Inn. 

Ex.  13. — Noddon,  The  Upper  Lyd,  Stinka  Tor,  Branscombe's  Loaf, 
Corn  Ridge,  The  Sourton  Tors,  Lake  Down,  n  m.  Add  i£  m.  if  from 
and  to  the  village. 

From  the  Dartmoor  Inn  we  shall  proceed  by  the  Okehampton 
road  to  Vale  Down,  a  walk  of  about  £  m.  On  reaching  the  common 
we  have  on  our  L.  Battishill  Down,  and  adjoining  this  on  the  N.,  Fern- 
worthy  Down,  but  our  way  will  take  us  across  the  turf  R.  to  Noddon 
Gate,  on  the  line  of  the  King  Way  (T.  26).  Passing  through  this  we 
cross  the  peat  railway  at  a  bridge,  and  following  the  old  track  (or 
another,  made  by  peat  carts,  running  parallel,  and  very  near  to  it)  we 
shortly  reach  the  corner  of  the  enclosures  on  the  I/.  From  this  corner 
a  hedge  runs  in  the  same  direction  as  our  path,  and  forms  the  boundary 
of  Southerly  Down,  which  is  below  it.  Whether  this  hedge,  or  the 
wall  of  the  enclosures  further  down  the  hill  to  the  W.  of  it,  is  the 
Southerly  Wall  referred  to  in  certain  presentments  at  the  Lydford 
Courts  some  centuries  ago,  is  not  certain,  but  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Southerly  were  often  ordered  to  repair  the  wall  that  fenced  their  lands 
against  the  forest,  and  also  the  gate  by  which  they  gained  access  to  the 
moor,  the  entries  on  the  Court  Rolls  abundantly  prove.  N.  of  Southerly 
Down  is  a  small  piece  of  common  called  Combe  Down,  and  the  Rolls 
show  that  the  dilapidated  condition  of  the  gate  opening  upon  this  was 
also  the  cause  of  a  presentment  at  the  Court.  N.  of  Combe  Down  is 
Lake  Down,  at  the  N.E-  corner  of  which  is  a  mark  called  the  Spring 
Rock. 

Passing  a  despoiled  tumulus  we  follow  the  track  upward,  with 
Noddon  on  the  R.  This  rounded  height,  to  which  the  fanciful  name 
of  Plum-pudding  Hill  has  been  given,  is  very  precipitous  on  the  E.  side, 
where  it  rises  nearly  230  feet  above  the  Lyd,  its  total  elevation  being 
1,430  feet.  As  we  proceed  we  shall  notice  that  the  hedge  before  refeired 
to  now  presents  a  remarkable  similarity  to  a  stone  row,  and  stops 
suddenly  in  a  tiny  hollow,  where  the  track  comes  up  from  Southerly 
and  Combe  (T.  30),  and  crosses  the  King  Way.  Here  the  character 
of  the  common  changes,  the  ground  beyond  this  point  being  covered 
with  rocks.  We  do  not,  however,  proceed  any  further  along  the  line 
of  the  King  Way,  which  the  peat  railway  here  cuts  into,  but  shall 
follow  the  track  from  Southerly,  which  passes  under  the  line.  Our 


So  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

next  point  is  Lyd  Head,  to  which  the  track  will  lead  us  (T.  30),  but  if 
we  prefer  it  we  may  pass  down  to  the  stream  and  trace  it  to  its  source. 
In  either  case  we  again  cross  the  railway  just  before  the  springs  are 
reached.  If  we  make  our  way  by  the  river  we  shall  come  upon  an 
extensive  stream  work,  where  on  the  L.  bank  is  a  small  cave,  usually 
spoken  of  as  The  Hut.  More  than  one  story  is  told  in  connection  with 
it.  According  to  these  it  has  been  a  place  where  the  "  old  men  " 
used  to  shelter  ;  a  smuggler's  store- place  ;  a  gipsies'  haunt ;  and  a 
home  of  the  pixies.  That  it  was  used  by  the  "  old  men,"  or  early 
miners,  is  not  at  all  improbable. 

The  Lyd  rises  near  Gren  Tor,  in  the  dip  between  Woodcock  Hill 
and  Corn  Ridge,  its  source  being  a  mire  known  as  Tiger's  Marsh,  which 
runs  up  the  hollow  about  E.  by  N.  The  stream  is  crossed  just  below 
its  source  by  Lydda  Bridge,*  a  rude  structure  over  which  passes  not 
only  the  track  we  have  followed  from  Southerly  Down  (T.  30),  but 
also  another  that  comes  up  from  Prewley  Moor  (T.  32).  Gren  Tor, 
•which  is  a  rather  striking  object,  though  of  small  size,  is  situated  close 
to  the  track  S.E.  of  the  bridge.  Like  Green  Tor,  on  the  Rattle  Brook 
(Ex.  12),  i£  m.  away,  it  is  called  by  the  moormen  Grinny,  or  Grenny 
Tor.  Our  next  point  is  Stinka  Tor,  which  we  may  reach  either  by 
striking  over  Woodcock  Hill,  in  a  direction  E.  by  N.,  the  distance 
being  i  m.,  or  we  may  follow  the  track  for  i  m.,  when  we  shall  find 
ourselves  about  J  m.  from  it.  The  latter  will  perhaps  be  the  better 
plan.  The  track  will  take  us  close  to  Hunt  Tor  (Ex.  12),  immediately 
after  passing  which  we  cross  the  higher  part  of  the  mire  at  Rattle 
Brook  Head  (Ex.  12),  and  J  m.  beyond  this,  where  the  track  turns 
suddenly  southward  to  Kitty  Tor  (Ex.  12),  we  leave  it,  and  strike 
N.E. 

Stinka  Tor,  which  is  nearly  \  m.  above  Sandy  Ford,  on  the  West 
Ockment  (Ex.  14),  overlooks  the  deep  valley  through  which  that  river 
runs  from  the  forest  to  the  Meldon  Gorge,  and  which  is  noticed  post 
(Ex.  14).  The  tor,  which  is  small,  acts  as  a  forest  bondmark,  the 
line  being  drawn  to  the  ford  named  in  one  direction,  and  to  Rattle 
Brook  Head  in  the  other.  In  the  1609  survey  of  the  forest  bounds 
the  tor  appears  as  Steinegtorr,  but  in  another  document  to  which 
authority  also  attaches,  the  name  is  given  as  Steng-a-tor,  or  Sourton 
Tor,  the  latter  having  reference  to  its  situation  on  the  boundary  line 
of  the  common  lands  of  Sourton  and  Bridestowe,  which  is  here  con- 
terminous with  that  of  the  forest.  In  1699  we  find  it  in  the  same 
form  as  at  the  present  day,  a  moorman  of  Lydford,  named  John 
Clement,  referring  to  it  in  a  deposition  taken  in  a  certain  suit  in  that 
year,  as  Stinkatorr. 

Leaving  this  pile  we  make  our  way  in  a  direction  N.W.  by  N.,  the 
Ockment  Valley  being  below  us  R.  (Ex.  14).  On  the  further  side  is 
High  Willes,  with  Forsland,  or  Fordsland,  Ledge,  just  below  it  in  the 
foreground.  Yes  Tor  is  a  short  distance  beyond  Willes,  and  down  the 
valley  in  advance  of  us  are  the  piles  of  Black  Tor.  (These  are  noticed 
in  excursions  in  the  Okehampton  District).  Keeping  along  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  but  not  too  low  down,  we  shall,  at  the  distance  of  -i  m.  from 
Stinka  Tor,  reach  some  scattered  rocks  known  as  the  Slipper  Stones, 
opposite  to  Black  Tor  Copse  (Ex.  14),  and  here  we  shall  turn  L.  up  the 

*  A  corruption,  in  all  probability,  of  Lyd  Head. 


7.  LYDFORD  ftOKEHAMPTDN  Premiers 


EXCURSIONS    1 

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52  LYDFORD    DISTRICT. 

hill.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  topmost  stone  wears  the  form  of  a 
huge  slipper.  Our  course  is  now  W.  by  N.,  and  our  next  point  the 
square  mass  on  the  slope  of  Corn  Ridge  called  Branscombe's  Loaf, 
rather  more  than  i  m.  away.  In  the  name  c  f  this  lump  of  granite  we 
probably  see  the  Celtic  word  Llof,  an  excrescence,  which  is  not  an 
unsuitable  description  of  it,  resting  as  it  does  on  the  smooth  turf  with 
no  scatteied  blocks  surrounding  it  as  in  the  case  of  the  tors.  (Cf.  Chat 
Tor,  Ex.  1 1 ).  But  the  name  is  usually  associated  with  a  loaf  of  bread, 
and  it  was  therefore  with  amazement  that  the  baker  "  in  along  "  heard 
the  Sourton  native  declare  that  when  he  came  out  his  way  he  would 
show  him  a  bigger  loaf  than  any  he  had  ever  seen  : — "  Us  Sourtou 
vokes  got  monstrous  appetites,  you  knaw."  Close  by  is  a  smaller 
lump,  and  the  both  are  generally  known  as  Branscombe's  Ix>af  and 
Cheese.*  Just  above  the  rock,  on  the  summit  of  Corn  Ridge,  is  a  large 
cairn,  and  on  the  further  side  of  the  hill  \  m.  below  this,  in  a  S.W. 
direction,  is  a  short  level  on  the  peat  railway,  where  it  forms  an  acute 
angle.  On  this  the  wagons  were  run  in  and  stopped,  while  the  points 
were  shifted.  The  horses  were  then  hitched  to  what  had  before  been 
the  hinder  part  of  the  truck,  and  the  jovtrney  up  the  hill  was  resumed. 
Between  the  cairn  and  this  spot  is  the  peat  track  to  Kitty  Tor,  which 
passes  over  Lydda  Bridge  (T.  30,  32,  Ex.  12). 

We  descend  the  northern  slope  of  Corn  Ridge  into  the  dip  between 
that  hill  and  the  Sourton  Tors,  which  are  in  fuU  view  N.W.  Here  we 
reach  the  King  Way  (T.  26)  running  nearly  N.  and  S.,  close  to 
which  we  may  observe  a  large  worked  granite  stone.  It  is  the  half  of 
a  trough,  of  the  kind  used  for  pounding  apples  in,  evidently  broken  in 
the  course  of  being  cut.  Near  by.  and  close  to  some  shallow  pits, 
now  overgrown  with  turf,  and  which  mark  the  site  of  some  long- 
disused  ice  works,  a  row  of  granite  posts  may  be  seen.  The  spot  is 
known  as  Iron  Gates,  and  forms  one  of  the  boundaries  of  Sourton 
Common.  The  wider  gap  between  two  of  them  seems  to  show  where 
the  old  King  Way  passed.  The  branch  track  that  goes  eastward  runs 
out  to  some  mine  workings  known  as  Crocker's  Pits. 

Climbing  the  slight  ascent  to  the  Sourton  Tors  we  shall  find  our- 
selves among  the  scattered  rock  clusters  covering  the  greater  part  of 
the  hill.  The  principal  pile,  at  the  N.W.  of  the  groups,  is  known  as 
East  Tor,  that  being  its  relative  situation  to  the  village  of  Sourton. 
which  is  just  below  it.  Upon  this  little  place  we  now  look  down,  and 
may  make  our  way  thither  if  we  choose  by  the  track  that  crosses  the 
railway  close  to  the  church.  Not  many  years  ago  Sourton  was  a 
typical  moorland  village,  but  the  presence  of  the  railway,  and  the 
erection  of  one  or  two  modern  buildings,  has  robbed  it  of  much  of  this 
character.  In  this  parish  of  less  than  four  hundred  inhabitants  there 
was,  in  1904,  one  resident  over  a  hundred  years  of  age,  and  several 
between  eighty  and  ninety.  Our  homeward  way  will  lead  us  through 
the  hamlets  of  Lake  and  Southerly  to  the  Fox  and  Hounds,  i  m. 
beyond  which  we  shall  reach  the  Dartmoor  Inn  whence  we  set  out. 

*  The  name  Branscombe  occurs  in  another  part  of  the  county, 
and  its  derivation  from  bran,  a  crow,  and  cwm.  a  valley,  i.e.,  the  crow's 
valley,  has  been  suggested.  But  the  true  Celtic  form  would  be  Cwm 
Bran.  It  should  be  noticed  that  a  combe,  known  as  Corn  Hole,  is  to 
be  seen  on  the  hillside  below  this  mass  of  rock. 


SHORTER    EXCURSIONS   FROM    LYDFORD.  53 

[From  the  Sourton  tors  the  walk  may  be  extended  by  descending 
the  N.  end  of  the  hill  to  Prewley  Moor,  and  passing  under  the  railway 
(T.  32)  to  the  high  road,  and  turning  L.  to  Sourton.  Or  the  rambler 
may  shorten  it  a  little  by  striking  down  the  hill  S.  by  E.  to  the  head  of 
Withycombe  Bottom,  and  making  his  way  by  a  green  path  (T.  31), 
with  that  valley  on  his  R.  and  Lake  Down  on  his  L.,  to  the  Lake 
Viaduct.  This  will  be  found  a  very  charming  walk.  The  sides  of  the 
valley,  through  which  a  little  stream  runs,  are  steep,  and  the  further 
one  partly  wooded.  At  the  bottom  are  a  few  vestiges  of  the  old 
Torwood  Mine.  Passing  under  the  viaduct  the  rambler  will  follow 
the  lane  by  the  stream  to  the  hamlet  of  Lake,  situated  on  the  high  road, 
and  about  i\  m.  from  his  destination.] 


Shorter  Excursions. 

S.  Ex.  25. — Brent  Tor  from  the  Manor  Hotel,  6t  m.  By  the  Tavi- 
stock  road,  passing  the  entrance  to  Burnville  L-,  and  Langstone  R., 
and  on  to  the  Herring  Arms.  Up  the  hill  J  m.  to  the  gate  as  in  Ex.  9. 
Return  past  the  Herring  Arms  to  Batten's  Corner,  £  m.  N.E.  ;  turn  R. 
and  follow  road  through  Brent  Tor  village  to  the  railway  bridge  by  the 
station.  Cross  this,  and  entering  on  Black  Down,  turn  L.,  and  follow 
the  green  path  parallel  to  the  railway  to  the  gate  near  Lydford  Station. 
(The  rock  on  the  hill  immediately  in  front  of  the  Manor  Hotel  is  Was 
Tor). 

S.  Ex.  26. — Hill  Bridge,  j\  m.  To  Horndon  -Down  Bridge  as  in 
Ex.  10,  if  from  the  station.  If  from  the  village  the  route  will  be  to 
Beardon  (Ex.  10),  thence  up  the  hill  past  Watervale  to  Black  Down. 
Then  over  the  down  by  the  track  L.  (T.  24),  which  is  reached  just 
before  the  road  drops  down  into  the  hollow  where  a  little  stream  passes 
under  it.  The  track  runs  S.S.E.  direct  to  Horndon  Down  Bridge. 
Thence  S.S.E.  to  the  opening  between  the  enclosures  (see  end  of 
Ex.  10),  and  so  to  Zoar  Down.  To  the  lower  L.  corner  of  this,  crossing 
the  road  on  the  way,  and  thence  by  the  narrow  lane  to  Lower  Town,  not 
far  below  which  the  bridge  is  reached  (Ex.  8).  The  return  may  be  by 
way  of  Hill  Town,  Will,  Yard  Gate,  and  Snap,  as  in  R.  2.  If  from 
and  to  the  station,  6J  m. 

S.  Ex.  27. — Hare  Tor,  7  m.  (village).  To  the  tor  as  in  Ex.  n. 
Thence  northward  to  Sharp  Tor,  and  down  to  Foxholes,  as  at  the  end 
of  that  excursion,  and  home  by  way  of  High  Down  as  there  described. 
6  m.  (village).  The  return  may  also  be  made  by  way  of  the  Tavy 
Cleave  Tors,  Ger  Tor.  and  White  Hill  (Ex.  n).  From  Hare  Tor  we 
strike  S.S.E.  \  m.  to  the  first-named  group,  and  then  S.W.  for  about 
the  same  distance  to  Ger  Tor,  keeping  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  instead 
of  descending  into  the  hollow  between  them.  (W.  of  Ger  Tor  a  track 
leads  down  to  Lane  End  (T.  20),  about  |  m.  distant).  From  Ger  Tor 
the  course  will  be  N.N.W.  to  the  wall  of  the  Redford  enclosures,  which, 
when  reached,  is  kept  close  on  the  L.  for  a  short  distance.  The  course 
is  then  due  W.  over  the  summit  of  White  Hill  to  the  gate  at  Down 
Lane.  Thence  through  Skit  as  in  R.  2. 


54       SHORTER  EXCURSIONS  FROM  LYDFORD. 

S.  Ex.  28. — Valley  of  the  Lyd  and  Bra  Tor,  5!  m.  (village).  High 
Down  by  the  gate  near  Skit  Bridge  (Ex.  1 1 ),  or  by  that  near  the  Dart- 
moor Inn.  To  Wheal  Mary  Emma  Ford  below  Bra  Tor  ;  cross  the 
stream,  and  pass  up  the  common  with  the  Doe  Tor  Brook  R.,  noticing 
the  falls  mentioned  in  Ex.  1 1.  Ascend  Bra  Tcr  (Ex.  1 1),  and  turn  N.  to 
Arms  Tor.  Thence  W.  down  the  hill  to  the  hut  circles  (Ex.  12) ; 
cross  the  Lyd  at  the  stepping-stones,  and  pass  up  the  hill  to  Noddon 
Gate  (Ex.  13).  Take  the  track  R.  to  the  Fox  and  Hounds  and  turn 
L.,  or  strike  across  Vale  Down  from  the  gate  to  the  high  road. 

S.  Ex.  29. — Noddon,  7%  m.  (village).  By  the  Okehampton  road 
and  Noddon  Gate  as  in  Ex.  13.  Follow  the  track  as  there  described 
till  the  hill  is  R.  (nearly  £  m.  from  the  gate).  Then  cross  the  peat 
railway  and  ascend  it.  Turn  I,.,  and  down  the  northern  slope,  with 
the  railway  near  by,  L-,  to  the  bridge.  Pass  under  it  and  strike  down 
the  hill  W.  across  Southerly  Down  (Ex.  13).  At  the  bottom,  between 
two  enclosures,  the  track  R.  leads  to  Combe  ;  the  L.  one  to  Southerly. 
Follow  the  latter,  passing  under  the  railway  to  the  high  road,  and  turn  L. 
Cranford  Bridge  is  reached  in  a  few  minutes.  Note  the  little  clapper  R. 
over  the  Cranford  Brook  in  front  of  a  cottage.  Straight  road  home. 

S.  Ex.  30. — Great  Links  Tor,  6  m.  (village).  As  in  Ex.  1 2.  Return 
by  descending  the  hill  W.  to  the  Lyd,  and  home  as  at  the  end  of  that 
excursion. 

S.  Ex.  31. — Branscombe's  Loaf,  9^  m.  (village).  By  Noddon  Gate 
as  in  Ex.  13,  but  instead  of  passing  under  the  peat  railway  continue 
up  the  hill,  keeping  the  line  R.  At  the  point  where  it  forms  an  angle 
leave  it,  and  climb  the  hill  N.E.  to  the  cairn  on  the  summit  of  Corn 
Ridge  (Ex.  13).  The  Loaf  is  just  below  this.  Return  by  striking  W. 
across  the  dip  to  the  head  of  Withycombe  Bottom  (Ex.  13),  and 
descend  to  Lake. 

S.  Ex.  32. — The  Sourton  Tors,  10  m.  (village).  By  the  Okehamp- 
ton road  to  Higher  Collaven,  J  m.  beyond  Lake,  and  a  little  over  3  m. 
from  the  Dartmoor  Inn.  Turn  R.  from  the  high  road  (T.  32),  and  pass 
under  the  railway  ;  on  reaching  the  common  the  tors  will  be  seen  just 
above.  Return  by  way  of  Sourton  village,  as  in  Ex.  13,  and  home  by 
the  high  road  ;  or  pass  into  the  dip  E.  of  the  tors,  and  follow  the  King 
Way  (T.  26)  S.  It  soon  strikes  the  peat  railway,  which  is  then  followed 
to  Noddon  Gate  (Ex.  13),  from  which  the  route  will  be  as  in  S.  Ex.  28. 
If  by  way  of  the  peat  lailway,  9  m. 

S.  Ex.  33. — The  Island  of  Rocks.  By  Noddon  Gate  and  the  peat 
railway,  n£  m.  (village).  By  Lake,  124  m.  (village).  (Okehampton 
District,  Ex.  14).  The  first  point  is  the  dip  between  the  Sourton  Tors 
and  Corn  Ridge  (Ex.  13),  which  may  be  reached  by  the  route  given  in 
S.  Ex.  31,  striking  L.  along  the  King  Way  (T.  26)  towards  the  dip  just 
before  reaching  the  point  where  the  peat  railway  forms  an  angle 
(Ex.  13)  ;  or  by  the  Okehampton  road  to  Lake.  In  the  former  case  the 
King  Way  must  not  be  followed  very  far  after  it  leaves  the  railway,  as 
the  visitor  must  not  descend  into  the  dip,  but  make  his  way  across  the 
northern  slope  of  Corn  Ridge  ;  he  therefore  strikes  R.,  not,  however, 
ascending  the  ridge,  and  maintains  a  N.E.  course.  This  will  lead  him 
down  the  hill  to  the  Island,  Shilstone  Tor  being  on  his  R.  as  he  ap- 
proaches it.  If  he  goes  by  way  of  Lake,  which  is  the  longer,  he  will 
turn  R.  at  the  hamlet,  and  following  the  lane  by  the  stream,  pass 
under  the  viaduct.  Then  take  the  green  path  L.  up  the  steep  side  of 


ROUTES  16,  17,  18.     LYDFORD  TO  CHAGFORD,  BOVEY,  Etc.   $5 

the  common,  with  Withycombe  Bottom  (Ex.  13)  L.  At  the  head  of 
this  is  the  dip,  and  the  King  Way  will  soon  be  struck.  Cross  this,  and 
steer  N.E.  by  E.,  passing  through  the  dip  and  descending  the  hill. 
Part  way  down  Corn  Hole  is  crossed.  Care  must  be  taken  to  leave  the 
little  Vellake  stream  well  to  the  L-,  and  Shilstone  Tor  to  the  R.  Return 
to  the  dip,  i  m.  up  the  hill  W.S.W.,  from  which  point  homeward  routes 
are  given  in  Ex.  13  and  S.  Ex.  32. 

[During  rifle  practice  that  part  of  the  moor  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Tavy  Cleave  must  be  avoided  by  the  public.] 


Routes  from  Lydford. 

Distances  one  way  only. 

R.  16.— To  Okehampton,  N.E.  by  N.  By  Road  :  See  Route  9, 
8  m.  Reverse,  R.  30. 

[Objects  passed  are  described  in  Exs.  n  to  15.] 

R.  17. — To  Chagford  and  Moreton,  E.  by  N.  High  Down,  Rattle 
Brook  Hill,  Amicombe  Hill,  Great  Kneeset,  Cranmere  Pool,  Newtake, 
Hew  Down,  Batworthy,  Teigncombe,  14^  m.  See  Cranmere  Routes  : 
C.R.  5  to  the  Pool,  thence  by  C.R.  12.  The  reverse  will  also  be  found 
in  these  routes.  For  Chagford  to  Moreton  by  road  see  that  district. 
Reverse,  R.  37. 

[Objects  passed  described  in  Exs.  11,  12,  19,  20  ;  and  in  the  Cran- 
mere Routes.} 

R.  1 8. —To  Bovey  Tracey,  E.  by  S.  Hill  Bridge,  White 
Barrow,  Lich  Path,  Bear  Down  Newtake  Wall,  Longaford  Tor,  Moreton 
Road.  Thence  (A)  via  Bellaford  and  Shallowford,  24  m.  ;  (B)  via 
Post  Bridge  and  Runnage,  25  m.  Reverse,  R.  44. 

[Objects  are  noticed  in  Exs.  10,  5,  46,  44,  27,  26,  25.] 

Hill  Bridge  as  in  S.  Ex.  26.  Thence  to  the  outer  end  of  the  stroll 
between  Bagga  Tor  and  Longbetor,  as  in  Ex.  10,  and  thence  S.E.  by 
the  Lich  Path  (T.  18)  to  White  Barrow  (Ex.  8).  Follow  the  Lich  Path 
E-,  taking  the  R.  branch  at  the  fork  part  way  down  the  hill.  Then 
cross  the  Walkham  at  Sandy  Ford,  and  the  Prison  Leat  at  the  bridge. 
Continue  on  the  Lich  Path  E.  for  about  i£  m.  to  Travellers'  Ford 
(Ex.  5)  on  the  Cowsic.  Cross  the  stream,  leaving  the  path,  and  taking 
the  wall  of  Bear  Down  Newtake  for  a  guide,  keep  it  on  the  R.  This 
will  lead  over  the  hill  to  the  West  Dart,  where  the  Foxholes  Water 
(Ex.  5)  falls  into  it.  Cross  the  Dart,  and  keep  E.  up  the  hill,  with 
Longaford  Tor  (Ex.  5)  a  little  to  the  R.  £  m.  after  passing  the  tor  the 
Cherry  Brook  (Ex.  46)  will  be  reached,  N.  of  the  Powder  Mills.  If 
Route  A  be  chosen  this  stream  must  be  followed  downward  to  Higher 
Cherry  Brook  Bridge,  whence  the  way  is  described  in  Route  5  (B)  ; 
if  B  be  the  route  the  rambler  will  keep  straight  on  when  he  crosses  the 
brook,  leaving  Arch  Tor,  which  is  merely  a  small  lump  of  rock,  L. 
This  will  bring  him  to  the  Powder  Mills  leat,  which  a  footbridge  near 
the  tor  will  enable  him  to  cross.  Straight  on  to  the  Moreton  road, 
and  then  northward  to  Post  Bridge,  £  m.  distant.  Thence  as  in 
Route  5  (C). 


56         ROUTES  19  to  21.     LYDFORD  TO  ASHBURTON,  Etc. 

R.  19. — To  Ashburton  via  Two  Bridges,  S.E.  by  E.  Hill  Bridge, 
White  Barrow,  Lich  Path,  The  Cowsic,  Two  Bridges.  Thence  as  in 
R.  5  (A)  to  Ouldsbroom  Cross,  and  thence  as  in  R.  6  (A),  24  m. 
Reverse,  R.  51. 

[For  description  of  objects  passed  refer  to  Exs.  10,  5,  42,  41.] 

Follow  the  directions  given  in  R.  1 8  to  reach  the  Lich  Path.  When 
£  m.  or  so  beyond  the  Prison  Leat  bridge,  leave  the  Lich  Path,  and 
strike  R.,  the  course  being  about  S.E.  Soon  the  Cowsic  will  be  reached, 
and  this  must  be  followed  downwards,  as  in  Ex.  5 ,  to  the  road.  Turn  L. 
Two  Bridges  is  near  by.  From  that  point  see  as  above  indicated. 

R.  20. — To  Brent,  Ivybridge,  and  Cornwood  via  Hill  Bridge  and 
Princetown,  S.E.  round  to  S.S.E.  Hill  Bridge,  White  Tor,  Mis  Tor, 
Rundle  Stone,  Princetown.  Thence  as  in  R.  7.  Brent,  23  m.  ;  Ivy- 
bridge,  23^  m.  ;  Cornwood,  20^  m.  Reverse,  R.  62. 

[Objects  passed  are  described  thus  :  Between  Lydford  and  Prince- 
town  in  Exs.  10, 9,  6  ;  from.  Princetown  to  the  Plym  in  Exs.  2,  3,  37 ;  from 
the  Plym  to  Red  Lake  in  Exs.  36,  43,  33  ;  acd  from  Red  Lake  to  Shipley 
Moor  Gate  in  Ex.  30.  The  route  to  Ivybridge  includes  the  above  to 
Ex.  36,  and  33,  32.  The  Cornwood  route  includes  those  to  Ex.  36.] 

To  Hill  Bridge  as  in  S.  Ex.  26.  Thence  up  Church  Lane  and  turn 
R.  On  for  about  J  m.,  when  some  steps  in  the  hedge  will  be  seen  L. 
(These  are  noticed  in  R.  2).  Enter  the  field  by  these,  and  follow  the 
path  running  up  across  it  to  the  hedge  bordering  on  the  common, 
where  are  other  steps.  Pass  up  over  the  common  to  White  Tor  (Ex.  8) 
S.E.  by  E.,  and  distant  i  m.  The  next  point  is  Mis  Tor  (Ex.  6),  S.E. 
by  E.,  and  2  m.  away.  But  the  ground  above  the  springs  of  the  Peter 
Tavy  Brook  being  rather  miry  it  will  be  well  to  keep  to  the  L.  of  a 
direct  line  in  crossing  Langstone  Moor  (Ex.  8).  ,  The  menhir  will  be 
noticed  eastward  of  White  Tor,  and  the  stone  circle  (Ex.  8)  on  the 
further  side  of  this  common.  Near  the  latter  the  Walkham  is  crossed. 
The  next  point  is  Mis  Tor,  high  above  the  river.  From  here  the  course 
is  S.E.  by  S.  to  Rundle  Stone,  over  i£  m.  distant.  The  wall  of  the 
New  Forest  enclosure  (Ex.  5,  6)  is  on  the  L.  of  the  path.  From  Rundle 
Stone  to  Princetown  see  R.  15. 

[If  the  state  of  the  weather  is  such  as  to  render  the  crossing  of  the 
Walkham  impossible  it  will  be  necessary  to  go  by  way  of  Merivale 
Bridge  (Ex.  i).  From  White  Tor  the  course  is  S.E.  to  the  end  of  the 
Wedlake  enclosures.  These  are  then  kept  on  the  R.,  the  course  being 
S.  by  W.,  under  Roose  Tor,  which  is  L.,  and  direct  to  Great  Staple  Tor. 
Here  the  path  running  from  Peter  Tavy  to  Merivale  (T.  14)  will  be 
struck,  and  must  be  followed  L.  over  the  ridge  to  the  high  road. 
Merivale  Bridge  is  just  below.  The  route  from  that  place  to  Prince- 
town  will  be  found  in  R.  15.] 

The  route  from  Princetown  to  Brent  and  Ivybridge  is  given  in 
Part  I.  See  R.  7. 

R.  21. — To  Plympton  and  Shaugh,  S.  by  E.  By  Road.  First 
point  Warren's  Cross,  thence  as  in  R.  13.  Plympton,  2i|  m.  ;  Shaugh, 
17  m.  ;  Cornwood,  20^  m.  Reverse,  R.  69. 

[Objects  are  noticed  in  Exs.  10,  9,  8,  7,  40,  39,  38,  35.] 

From  Lydford  village  by  Skit  Steps  (Ex.  10)  to  the  road  below 
Beardon.  Turn  S.  to  Watervale  and  Black  Down,  and  follow  the 
road  over  it.  Pass  through  the  village  of  Black  Down,  and  by  Lane 
Head  (Ex.  9)  to  Wringworthy  Hill — high  road  the  whole  of  the  way. 


C.  R.  5.     LYDFORD   TO  CRANMERE.  57 

[From  the  Manor  Hotel  the  road  over  the  down  may  be  reached  by  the 
Lydford  Path  (T.  23),  passing  up  from  the  S.W.R.  cottages  towards 
Gibbet  Hill,  but  leaving  that  a  little  to  the  R.]  At  the  bottom  of 
Wringworthy  Hill  turn  L.  opposite  to  the  second  milestone  from 
Tavistock.  Cross  Harford  Bridge  and  turn  R.,  and  keep  straight  up 
Batridge  Hill,  with  the  farm  of  Radge  (mentioned  as  Raddyche  in  an 
account  of  the  forester  of  the  West  Bailiwick  of  the  forest,  in  1502)  on 
the  R.  About  i^  m.  from  the  bridge  Moor  Shop  (R.  i,  Ex.  8)  is  reached. 
Straight  on  down  the  hill  for  rather  over  £  m.  to  Penny-come-quick. 
Then  up  the  hill  with  Whitchurch  Down  on  the  R.  to  Warren's  Cross, 
where  the  road  from  Tavistock  comes  in  from  R.  From  this  point 
the  way  is  described  in  R.  13. 

R.  22. — To  Princetown,  S.E.  by  S.  to  Rundle  Stone,  1 1  m.  Re- 
verse, R.  2.  This  route  is  the  same  as  the  first  part  of  R.  20,  q.v. 

[Objects  noticed  in  Exs.  10,  9,  6.] 

R.  23.— To  Tavistock,  S.W.  by  S.  By  Road,  8  m.  Reverse, 
R.  9. 

[Objects  noticed  in  Exs.  10,  9.] 

To  the  bottom  of  Wringworthy  Hill  as  in  R.  21.  Thence  straight 
on  by  the  high  road,  2  m.  further,  to  the  town.  An  alternative  route 
is  by  the  road  from  the  Manor  Hotel  past  the  Herring  Arms,  as  in 
S.  Ex.  25.  Leave  Brent  Tor  L.  and  follow  the  high  road  past  Pitland 
Corner  to  the  town. 


ROUTES  TO   CRANMERE. 

For  notice  of  the  pool  see  Part  III. 

C.  R.  5.—  From  LYDFORD,  5$  m.  from  the  Dartmoor  Inn,  and 
BRENT  TOR,  8£  m.  (Mary  Tavy  visitors  will  join  by  striking  R. 
into  the  Dartmoor  Path,  T.  21,  beyond  the  fifth  milestone  from 
Tavistock,  and  following  it  to  the  Rattle  Brook,  or  by  reaching  that 
stream  via  Lane  End  and  Tavy  Cleave,  Ex.  n.  But  this  cannot  be 
done  during  rifle  practice  at  the  camp.  The  Dartmoor  Path  is  also 
followed  to  the  Rattle  Brook  by  Brent  Tor  visitors).  From  the  Dart- 
moor Inn  to  the  High  Down  stepping  stones,  reached  by  keeping  L. 
by  the  wall  on  gaining  the  down  ;  thence  between  Bra  Tor,  with  the 
cross  R.  and  Arms  Tor  L.,  to  the  top  of  the  ridge,  and  down  to  the 
Rattle  Brook  with  Chat  Tor  R.,  the  course  from  the  steps  being  E. 
(This  stream  may  also  be  reached  by  way  of  Wheal  Mary  Emma  Steps, 
when  Bra  Tor  is  kept  L.)  This  course  is  continued  over  Amicombe 
Hill  (referred  to  in  1 346  as  the  Preda  de  Aunnacombe)  to  Great  Kneeset, 
nearly  2  m.  from  the  brook.  Keep  L.  of  Kneeset  when  approaching  it ; 
it  rises  like  a  peak  (Ex.  14).  From  that  point,  which  is  reached  soon 
after  crossing  the  head  waters  of  the  Amicombe,  Cranmere  is  i  m.  E., 


58  C.  R  6,  7.     Brides  to  we  and  Sour  ton  to  Cranmere. 

Newtake  being  seen  against  the  sky  beyond  it.  But  a  direct  course 
must  not  be  followed,  as  such  would  lead  the  rambler  over  broken 
ground.  Keep  R.  of  an  E.  line  and  cross  Kneeset  Pan.  When  the 
ground  rises  a  little  the  line  described  in  C.  R.  ic  will  be  reached. 
Turn  a  little  L.,  keeping  the  fen  close  on  the  R. 

Another  plan  is  to  leave  Great  Kneeset  on  the  R.,  and  bear  N.E. 
from  the  head  of  the  Amicombe  towards  the  West  Ockment,  which 
must  be  kept  L.  Continue  N.E.  and  the  stream  will  be  struck  at  the 
foot  of  Jackman's  Bottom,  which  is  on  the  L.  bank.  Follow  the  stream 
upward.  At  the  confluence  above  the  stream  coming  from  the  L.  in 
ascending  is  a  tributary  from  Vergyland  Combe.  At  the  next  con- 
fluence the  tiny  stream  from  the  R.  is  a  tributary.  The  source  of  the 
Ockment  is  just  above  this,  and  close  to  the  pool.  A  little  mining 
building  will  be  passed  on  the  way. 

C.  R.  6.— From  BRIDESTOWE,  5*  m.  from  the  Fox  and  Hounds. 
The  road  by  the  side  of  the  Fox  and  Hounds  is  followed  to  Noddon 
Gate  (Ex.  13),  and  the  Lyd  crossed  at  Noddon  Steps.  The  way  then 
lies  up  the  hill  with  Arms  Tor  L-,  and  from  the  crest  of  the  ridge  the  route 
is  the  same  as  C.  R.  5,  as  also  is  the  return. 

C.  R.  7.— From  SOURTON,  6  m.  The  pool  may  be  reached 
from  this  place  by  way  of  Kitty  Tor,  T.  30,  31,  32,  from  which  Great 
Kneeset  is  about  i£  m.  S.E.  by  E.  Thence  as  in  C.  R.  5.  Another 
way  is  by  the  West  Ockment  valley,  passing  under  Branscombe's 
Loaf,  and  striking  the  river  opposite  to  Black  Tor  Copse.  This  is  then 
followed  to  Sandy  Ford,  where  it  must  be  crossed.  From  this  point 
C.  R.  8  a  gives  the  way.  If  the  stream  cannot  be  crossed  at  the  ford  it 
should  be  followed  up  to  where  Brim  Brook  (Ex.  14)  conies  into  it 
from  the  N.,  above  which  no  difficulty  in  gaining  the  R.  bank  will  be 
experienced.  Thence  C.  R.  8a. 

RETURN  ROUTES.  To  LYDFORD.  W.  by  S.,  £  m.  along  the  low 
ridge,  keeping  close  to  the  fen  on  the  L.  Then  strike  W.  by  N.  across 
Kneeset  Pan  towards  R.  of  Great  Kneeset.  On  passing  summit  bear 
•W.  by  S.  for  over  •£  m.  to  the  springs  of  the  Amicombe,  and  thence  W. 
across  Amicombe  Hill  to  the  Rattle  Brook,  which  should  be  reached 
£  m.  S.  of  Links  Tor.  In  ascending  the  ridge  W.  of  the  Rattle  Brook 
keep  Chat  Tor  L. 

To  SOURTON.  From  Great  Kneeset  to  the  springs  of  the  Ami- 
combe, as  above.  Thence  N.W.  to  Kitty  Tor,  about  i  m.  Then  by 
the  peat  track  to  Sourton  Tors.  See  T.  "30,  31,  32,  in  Part  V. 


DISTANCES   TO    OK E HAMPTON.  59 


OKEHAMPTON   DISTRICT. 

DISTANCES.  BY  ROAD  :  ASHBURTON,  via  Dartmoor  Inn, 
Black  Down,  Lane  Head,  Harford  Bridge,  Moor  Shop,  and  Two  Bridges, 
35  m.  Via  Sticklepath,  Throwleigh,  Chagford,  Beetor  Cross,  Swine 
Down  Gate,  Hemsworthy  Gate,  and  Welstor  Cross,  23  m. — BEL- 
STONE,  3*  m.— BERRY  DOWN  (for  Scorhill),  via  Sticklepath, 
Payne's  Bridge,  Moortown,  and  Creber  Pound,  8£  m. — BOVEY 
TRACEY,  via  Sticklepath,  Whiddon  Down,  Sandy  Park,  and  More- 
ton,  20  m. — BRENT  TOR  VILLAGE,  via  Lydford,  13  m. 
BUCKFASTLEIGH,  via  Two  Bridges  (vide  Ashburton  supra), 
Hexworthy,  and  Holne,  34^-  m.  Via  Welstor  Cross  (vide  Ashburton 
supra),  25  m.— CHAGFORD,  via  Sticklepath  and  Throwleigh,  io£  m. — 
CORNWOOD,  via  Moor  Shop  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  Warren's  Cross, 
Huckworthy  Bridge,  Dousland,  and  Cadaford  Bridge,  28^  m. — DA  RT- 
MEET,  via  Two  Bridges  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  26J  m. — DART- 
MOOR INN,  LYDFORD,  8£  m.— DOUSLAND  (vide  Ashburton  and 
Cornwood  supra),  20  m..— DREW STEIGN TON ,  via  Sticklepath  and 
Whiddon  Down,  io£  m.  To  the  dolmen,  8f  m. — EXETER,  via  Stickle- 
path and  Whiddon  Down,  22  m.  —  FOX  AND  HOUNDS,  for 
BRIDESTOWE  STATION,  -j\  m.  —  GIDLEIGH,  via  Sticklepath, 
Payne's  Bridge,  and  Throwleigh,  84-  m.  Via  Payne's  Bridge  and 
Ensworthy,  about  the  same.— HEXWORTHY,  via  Two  Bridges  (vide 
Ashburton  supra),  27  m. — HILL  BRIDGE,  via  Black  Down,  Lane 
Head,  and  Horndon,  16^  m. — HOLNE,  3^  m.  short  of  Buckfastleigh, 
via  Hexworthy,  q.v. — IVYBRIDGE,  3  m.  beyond  Cornwood,  q.v. — 
LANE  END,  for  TA  VY  CLEAVE,  via  Lane  Head  and  Horndon. 
j<3£  m.—  LYDFORD,  9  m.—  MARY  TAVY,  via  Black  Down  and 
Lane  Head,  13  m.—MELDON  HAMLET,  3  m.  —  MERIVALE 
BRIDGE,  via  Moor  Shop  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  18  m.  —  MOOR 
GATE,  OKEHAMPTON  PARK,  i*  m.—  MOOR  SHOP  (2  m.  from 
Tavistock  ;  R.  i,  15),  15^  m. — MORETON,  via  Whiddon  Down  (vide 
Bovey  supra),  13^  m..— PETER  TAVY,  via  Black  Down  and  Harford 
Bridge,  15  m. — PLYMOUTH,  via  Tavistock,  30  in.— PLYMPTON, 
via  Cadaford  Bridge  (vide  Cornwood  supra),  and  Niel  Gate,  29^  m. — 
POST  BRIDGE,  via  Throwleigh  and  Chagford,  q.v.,  ij\~  m.^ 
PRINCETOWN,  via  Moor  Shop  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  2\\  m. — 
SOURTON,  5  m.— SOUTH  BRENT,  5  m.  beyond  Buckfastleigh,  via 
Welstor  Cross,  q.v.  ;  or  5 4-  m.  beyond  Ivybridge  via  Cornwood,  q.v. — 
SOUTH  TAWTON,  4^"  m.— SOUTH  ZEAL,  44  m.— STICKLE- 
PATH, 3 1  m.— TAVISTOCK,  16  m.— TAVY  CLEAVE  (vide  Lane 
End,  and  Ex.  1 1 ).— THROWLEIGH,  6f  m.— TWO  BRIDGES,  via  Moor 
Shop  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  2i£  m.— WARREN  HOUSE  INN,  2  m. 


60  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

short  of  Post  Bridge.  q.v.—WHIDDON  DOWN,  7  m. — WIDECOMBE, 
via  Chagford,  q.v.,  Beetor  Cross,  Heytree  Down,  and  Natsworthy, 
IQ£  m. — YELVERTON,  via  Moor  Shop  (vide  Ashburton  supra),  and 
Plaster  Down,  20^  m.  ;  via  Tavistock,  21  m. 

BY  RAIL:  EXETER  (L.S.W.),  26  m. ;  LYDFORD  (L.S.W.).  10 
m.  ;  PLYMOUTH  (L.S.W.  direct),  37  m.  ;  PRINCETOWN  (L.S.W. 
to  Tavistock,  thence  by  G.W.).  33J  m.  ;  TAVISTOCK  (L.S.W.),  17-^ 
m.  ;  YELVERTON  (L.S.W.  to  Tavistock,  thence  by  G.W.),  23^  m. 


Important  Points  and  Landmarks. 

Cosdon — HighWilles — Moor  Gate — Sandy  Ford  (Ockment) — White 
Moor  Stone.  Places  of  Interest.  Belstone  Cleave,  and  the  West  Cleave 
— Black  Tor  Copse — Branscombe's  Loaf  (Lydford  District)— East  Hill 
Camp — Fitz's  Well — Halstock  Woods — Island  of  Rocks — Okehampton 
Castle — Raybarrow  Pool — Taw  Marsh — Yes  Tor.  Prehistoric  A  ntiquities. 
The  Cemetery  :  kists  and  stone  rows  on  South  Tawton  Common — 
Clannaborough  Down :  hut  circles  and  reaves — Cosdon  :  cairns  and 
other  remains — Hound  Tor  :  stone  circle — The  Nine  Stones :  circle 
near  Belstone  —  Small  Brook :  pounds  and  hut  circles.  Mining 
Remains.  Brim  Brook  :  tinners'  huts — New  Bridge  :  stream  works — 
Skit  Bottom  :  stream  works,  and  on  the  Taw  above  Steeperton  Hole 
and  at  Taw  Marsh. 

Other  important  points  in  the  more  remote  parts  of  Northern 
Dartmoor  are  as  follows.  They  are  passed  on  the  routes. 

Bear  Down  Man ;  menhir  close  to  Devil's  Tor,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  head  of  the  Cowsic,  and  to  the  eastward  of  that 
stream. — Broad  Marsh ;  on  the  East  Dart,  below  the  point  where 
the  river  bends  to  the  south-east  two  miles  from  its  source. — 
Cranmere ;  a  hollow  on  the  fen  near  the  sources  of  the  East 
Dart,  West  Ockment,  and  Taw,  formerly  a  pool.  [See  Cranmere 
Routes.] — East  Dart  Head;  the  source  of  the  East  Dart,  about  two 
miles  N.N.E.  of  the  summit  of  Cut  Hill. — Fur  Tor ;  a  fine  tor 
overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Upper  Tavy  and  the  Amicombe,  four 
miles  N.N.E.  of  Great  Mis  Tor,  and  four  miles  S.  by  E.  of  High  Willes. 
— The  Guide  Stones,  Cut  Hill ;  two  slabs  marking  the  path  known  as 
Cut  Lane,  q.  v.  ;  they  are  not  far  from  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  on 
its  northern  slope. — Great  Kneeset ;  a  conspicuous  hill  above  the  West 
Ockment,  2*-  miles  E.  by  S.  of  Great  Links  Tor  ;  the  latter  is  situated 
on  the  commons  belonging  to  Bridestowe  and  Sourton. — Kitty  Tor ; 
a  pile  at  the  northern  end  of  Amicombe  Hill  ;  tracks  lead  to  it  from 
Prewley  Moor,  Sourton,  and  Southerly. — Newtake  ;  a  hill  eastward  of 
Cranmere  Pool  ;  on  some  maps  it  is  erroneously  shown  as  Newlake. — 
Red  Lake  Hill  Foot ;  the  confluence  of  the  Tavy  and  the  Amicombe.-^ 
Sandy  Ford  ;  a  ford  on  the  West  Ockment,  on  the  forest  boundary 


OKEHAMPTON    CASTLE.  61 

line. — Tavy  Hole  ;  the  hollow  down  which  the  Tavy  runs  just  above 
where  it  receives  Outer  Red  Lake. — Travellers'  Ford ;  crossing-place 
of  the  Lich  Path,  q.v.,  on  the  Cowsic,  rather  over  a  mile  from  its  source. 
— Walkham  Head  ;  the  source  of  the  Walkham,  but  the  name  is  often 
applied  to  that  part  of  the  moor  lying  round  it,  the  highest  point  of 
which,  on  the  E.,  attains  an  elevation  of  1,800  feet. — West  Dart  Head  ; 
the  source  of  the  West  Dart,  £  mile  S.S.E.  of  the  summit  of  Cut  Hill ; 
|  mile  E.S.E.  of  Tavy  Head  ;  and  i  mile  W.S.W.  of  Broad  Marsh,  on 
the  East  Dart. — White  Horse  Gate  ;  a  gate  in  the  wall  of  a  newtake 
belonging  to  Teign  Head,  opening  on  to  White  Horse  Hill,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  East  Dart  Head. 

The  manor  of  Ochmentune,  the  present  Okehampton,  was  bestowed, 
among  others,  upon  Baldwin  de  Brionys,  by  the  Conqueror.  The 
statement  has  been  made  that  this  Baldwin  also  bore  the  name  of  De 
Redvers,  and  was  created  Earl  of  Devon.  But  Baldwin  de  Redvers 
was  quite  a  different  person,  and  did  not  live  until  later,  nor  was  the 
earldom  of  Devon  created  by  William.  An  extensive  chase  belonged 
to  the  barony  of  Okehampton,  which  was  a  possession  of  the  De 
Redvers  in  the  thirteenth  century  (Ex.  6),  and  in  the  midst  of  this 
De  Brionys  is  said  to  have  built  a  castle,  but  nothing  now  remains  of  it. 
The  ruin  near  the  town,  which  probably  stands  on  its  site,  is  of  a  later 
period.  William  of  Worcester  states  that  it  was  erected  by  Thomas 
Courtenay,  whose  death  took  place  in  1458,  but  any  work  that  this 
earl  may  have  done  must  have  been  in  the  nature  of  repairs,  since  it  is 
evident  that  the  building  is  earlier  than  his  time.  Some  parts  of  the 
keep,  which  is  certainly  older  than  the  rest  of  the  edifice,  have  been 
thought  to  be  late  Norman.  Among  the  broken  walls  the  situation  of 
a  number  of  apartments  can  still  be  traced,  but  opinions  are  divided 
as  to  what  they  originally  were.  About  one,  however,  there  can  be  no 
mistake.  It  is  a  portion  of  the  chapel,  in  which  are  the  remains  of 
three  very  good  windows.  On  a  stone  by  the  side  of  the  piscina  is  an 

inscription — Hie  V fuit  captivus  belli,  1 809 — which  is  supposed 

to  be  the  work  of  one  of  the  French  prisoners  of  war  who  were  quartered 
here  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

The  neighbourhood  of  Okehampton  is  not  deficient  in  mineral 
wealth.  At  the  entrance  to  the  Meldon  Gorge,  just  above  the  viaduct, 
are  remains  of  quarrying.  A  vein  of  granulite  was  discovered  here 
many  years  ago,  which  was  used  in  the  making  of  a  certain  kind  of 
glass,  and  for  other  purposes.  [100  Years,  Chap.  III.]  There  is  also 
a  deep  quarry  pit  filled  with  water  above  the  left  bank  of  the  Ockment. 
The  locality  is  now  the  scene  of  other  operations,  sienite  being  produced 
here.  From  the  point  of  view  of  the  picturesque  the  defacing  of  this 
romantic  valley  is  lamentable,  but  the  consoling  element  is  that  such 
ventures  give  employment  to  labour.  Fortunately  the  workings  do 
not  extend  far  up  the  valley. 

There  are  no  remains  of  a  prehistoric  time  on  the  commons  of 
Okehampton  that  call  for  any  particular  notice,  though  a  few  exist  to 
show  that  man  was  here  in  a  ruder  age.  Flint  flakes  have  been  picked 
up,  and  a  stone  hammer  was  also  found  in  the  neighbourhood  a  few 
years  ago.  It  was  of  a  kind  of  rough,  hard,  grit  sandstone,  and  much 
weather-worn.  But  if  the  commons  lack  something  from  an  anti- 
quarian point  of  view,  the  visitor  will  quickly  discover  that  they  are 
richly  endowed  in  other  respects. 


62  ARTILLERY   CAMP. 

For  a  considerable  time  a  permanent  Artillery  Camp  has  been 
formed  in  Okehampton  Park,  and  gun  practice  takes  place  during  each 
summer  on  the  common,  the  targets  being  placed  some  distance  out 
upon  the  forest.  From  the  standpoint  of  the  Dartmoor  rambler 
this  is  disastrous.  Firing  commences  on  the  ranges  at  the  beginning 
of  May,  and  continues  until  about  the  end  of  September,  so  that  for 
the  five  months  that  the  moor  is  at  its  best  he  finds  himself  debarred 
from  visiting  a  great  part  of  it,  except  at  certain  hours,  and  on  Satur- 
days. And  not  only  is  this  so,  but  the  north  quarter  of  the  forest  is 
robbed  of  what  constitutes  one  of  Dartmoor's  greatest  charms,  its 
silence  and  its  solitude.  The  area  over  which  the  firing  takes  place  is 
very  large,  and  the  zone  is  marked  at  various  points  by  danger  boards. 
There  is  one  on  the  Sourton  Tors  ;  another  near  Kitty  Tor  ;  one  on  Great 
Kneeset ;  on  the  fen  near  Cranmere  ;  on  Newtake  Hill ;  on  Steeperton  ; 
and  on  Watchet  Hill,  close  to  Belstone  village.  Boards  are  also  placed 
on  the  roads  leading  to  the  dangerous  area,  and  they  all  bear  this 
notice  : 

"  DANGER. 

"  When  the  Artillery  are  firing  a  Flag  will  be  hoisted  on  Yes 
Tor  ;  it  is  then  dangerous  to  proceed  in  the  direction  towards  which 
this  board  points.     It  is  dangerous  to  handle  shell  found  on  the 
moor." 
Further  notice  is  also  issued  as  follows  : 

"  A  Red  Danger  Flag  will  be  hoisted  on  Yes  Tor  every  morn- 
ing when  firing  is  to  take  place,  and  will  be  kept  flying  until  firing 
ceases  for  the  day.  While  this  flag  is  flying  it  is  dangerous  to 
proceed  within  the  firing  zone. 

"  Flags  are  hoisted  on  Watchet  Hill  in  order  to  inform  the 
Belstone  inhabitants  which  range  or  ranges  are  to  be  used,  viz.  : — 
"  A  Red  Flag  denotes  No.  i  Range  ;  a  White  Flag  No.  2 
Range  ;  a  Blue  Flag  No.  3,  or  the  Belstone  Range  ;  a  combination 
of  any  of  these  flags  indicates  the  particular  ranges  to  be  used 
during  the  day. 

"  When  firing  is  going  to  take  place  a  Red  Flag  is  also  hoisted 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  near  Fitz's  Well,  for  the  special  information 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Okehampton  and  of  tourists  arriving  at  the 
Railway  Station. 

"  No  firing  takes  place  on  Sunday,  and  when  it  can  be  avoided, 
none  on  Saturday.  Firing  is  only  carried  out  on  Saturday  when 
there  has  been  misty  or  excessive  wet  weather  during  the  week. 
[No  firing  on  Bank  Holidays.] 

"When  there  is  to  be  no  firing  on  Saturday  notices  to  that 
effect  will  be  sent  to,  and  posted  up  in,  the  following  Post  Offices 
on  Friday  afternoon  : — Okehampton,  Bridestowe,  I/ydford,  Chag- 
ford,  Princetown,  and  Belstone. 

"  Notices  stating  whether  firing  is  going  to  be  carried  out  on 
Saturday  or  not  are  also  inserted  every  Saturday  morning  in  the 
following  Newspapers  : — Western  Morning  News,  Western  Daily 
Mercury.  Western  Independent,  Western  Daily  Times,  and  Devon 
and  Exeter  Daily  Gazette." 

All  cattle  are  driven  off  the  ranges  early  in  the  day  when  firing  is 
to  take  place,  the  moormen  being  specially  paid  for  this  work  by  the 


OKEHAMPTON   TO   BELSTONE.  63 

War  Office.     Compensation  is  also  paid  to  the  commoners.     The  firing 
usually  ceases  in  the  early  part  of  the  afternoon. 

The  military  roads  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Camp  will  be  found  of 
much  service  by  the  rambler. 


Excursions  from  Okehampton. 

Tracks  in  the  vicinity,  Nos.  33  to  42.  [The  district  described  in 
these  excursions  is  bounded  on  the  W.  by  the  valley  of  the  West  Ock- 
ment ;  on  the  south  by  an  imaginary  line  drawn  from  Great  Kneeset 
and  Lints  Tor  to  the  sources  of  Brim  Brook  and  the  Blackaven,  thence 
across  Ockment  Hill  to  Steeperton  Tor  on  the  Taw,  and  thence  by 
Hound  Tor  and  Kennon  Hill  to  Shilstone  Tor  on  the  verge  of  Throw- 
leigh  Common.  The  district  to  the  S.  of  this  line  between  the  West 
Ockment  and  the  Taw  is  noticed  in  the  Cranmere  Routes.] 

As  the  Okehampton  Excursions  are  also  intended  for  Belstone 
visitors,  and  as  that  village  is  made  the  starting-point  for  some  of 
them,  it  will  perhaps  be  well  that  we  should  briefly  describe  the  routes 
between  the  two  places  before  setting  out  on  our  rambles. 

OKEHAMPTON  TO  BELSTONE.  BY  ROAD.  The  way  lies 
over  the  East  Bridge  and  up  the  Bartons  Hill.  We  then  take  the 
second  turning  R.  and  follow  the  lane  to  the  railway  arch  near  the 
Fatherford  Viaduct.  We  pass  under  the  line  at  the  arch,  shortly 
afterwards  reaching  East  Lake,  where  the  road  runs  up  the  hill  R. 
Belstone  is  about  i  m.  distant  ;  on  the  way  one  turning  L.  is  passed, 
and  shortly  after  another  on  the  R. 

By  Path  to  Fatherford  Viaduct  from  the  Station,  Immediately 
opposite  the  booking-office  entrance  a  narrow  path  runs  down  the  bank 
to  another,  and  wider  one.  This,  which  is  part  of  an  old  tram-way,  we 
follow  eastward  to  the  viaduct.  The  side  of  the  hill  along  which  the 
path  is  conducted  is  wooded.  Across  the  valley  is  Ball  Hill,  its  great 
rounded  form  presenting  a  charming  picture  when  the  furze,  with 
which  it  is  covered,  is  in  bloom.  We  cross  the  East  Ockment  where 
it  flows  under  the  viaduct  at  a  footbridge.  A  short  distance  up  the 
lane  is  the  railway  arch  mentioned  above,  where  we  turn  towards 
East  Lake. 

By  Halstock  and  Chapel  Ford  (T.  36).  Our  first  point  is  the  gate 
of  East  Hill,  near  Fitz's  Well,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  above  the  railway 
station,  and  to  this  there  are  two  roads.  One  is  that  which  leads  from 
the  town  towards  the  station.  Just  before  the  latter  is  reached  it 
passes  under  the  railway  and  on  to  the  common,  up  which  it  winds  to 
meet  the  other.  The  latter  is  now  the  camp  road,  and  branches  R. 
from  the  station  road  near  the  foot  of  the  hill.  A  short  distance  above 
the  junction  L.  in  ascending,  the  corner  of  the  wall  of  East  Down  is 
passed,  and  here  a  track  runs  L.  to  the  gate  referred  to,  and  which  is 
only  a  few  score  yards  away.  (Fitz's  Well,  noticed  in  Ex.  15,  is  on  the 
R.)  Passing  through  the  gate  we  follow  the  road,  which  runs  down 
the  side  of  East  Hill,  to  the  Moor  Brook.  (The  ancient  encampment 


64  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

on  East  Down  is  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  40).  A  bridge,  built  by  the  tenant 
at  Halstock,  now  crosses  the  brook,  before  which  there  was  a  ford 
here,  with  a  single  stone  clapper  for  foot  passengers.  The  clapper  is 
still  in  its  place,  but  is  hidden  beneath  the  soil  placed  upon  it  to  elevate 
the  roadway.  Some  years  ago  I  took  the  measurements  of  this  stone 
and  found  it  to  be  n  feet  in  length,  and  i  foot  thick.  It  was  wider 
at  one  end  than  at  the  other,  but  about  the  centre  its  width  was  2^ 
feet.  A  short  distance  beyond  the  bridge  we  pass  Halstock  farmhouse, 
and  make  our  way  through  the  yard.  At  the  further  end  of  this  a 
track  runs  S.  by  the  side  of  a  field  called  Chapel  Lands  to  Halstock 
Down,  reaching  it  at  a  point  known  as  Halstock  Corner.  But  instead 
of  following  this  track  we  turn  L.  into  the  field  named,  our  path  lying 
across  it,  and  close  to  its  northern  edge.  At  the  point  where  the  track 
leaves  the  farm-yard  are  the  remains  of  some  low  walls,  much  over- 
grown, and  close  by,  in  the  corner  of  the  field,  are  the  vestiges  of  an 
enclosure.  It  is  traditionally  reported  that  Halstock  was  once  a 
settlement  of  considerable  size,  its  inhabitants  numbering  several 
hundred,  and  these  ruined  walls  were  formerly  pointed  out  as  marking 
a  part  of  its  site.  The  name  of  the  field  to  which  we  have  referred 
commemorates  the  ancient  sanctuary  referred  to  in  the  Forest  Per- 
ambulation of  1240  as  St.  Michael's  Chapel  of  Halstock.  Little  more, 
however,  than  its  name  now  remains.  Its  site  is  marked  by  some 
grass-covered  banks,  on  which  grow  two  storm-stricken  thorns,  but 
there  are  no  traces  of  masonry.  The  Rev.  H.  G.  Pothergill,  a  former 
Rector  of  Belstone,  left  some  manuscript  notes  to  a  work  written 
about  1839,  by  William  Bridges,  entitled,  Some  Account  of  the  Barony 
and  Town  of  Okehampton,  and  these  were  printed  in  a  new  edition 
published  in  1889.  These  notes  contain  some  references  to  the  chapel, 
of  which  Mr.  Fothergill  took  measurements.  He  found  it  to  be  nine 
paces  in  length  and  four  in  width  on  the  inside,  and  says  it  was  enclosed 
in  a  sort  of  court  measuring  23  paces  by  13,  at  the  western  end  of 
which  were  traces  of  a  belfry  or  vestry.  Some  years  ago  I  also  care- 
fully measured  it,  and  found  it  to  be  40  feet  long,  and  24  feet  wide  ; 
and  the  court  in  which  it  stands  90  feet  by  57  feet.  The  foundations 
of  what  Mr.  Fothergill  supposed  to  be  those  of  a  belfry,  or  vestry, 
cover  a  space  30  feet  by  25  feet.  These  are  external  measurements. 
Halstock  Chapel,  together  with  the  church  of  Okehampton,  belonged 
to  Cowick  Priory,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Thomas-by-Exeter,  which  at 
its  foundation  was  subordinate  to  the  great  abbey  of  Bee,  in  Normandy. 
About  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  on  the  resignation  of  the  prior, 
Henry  VI.  applied  the  revenues  of  the  priory  to  Eton  College,  but  Edward 
IV.  transferred  the  gift  to  the  Abbey  of  Tavistock.  The  remains  of  the 
chapel  are  in  the  S.  part  of  the  field,  the  site  being  marked  by  the  two 
thorns.  The  view  from  the  chapel  is  very  fine,  embracing  towards  the  N. 
much  that  is  seen  from  the  brow  of  the  hill  near  Fitz's  Well.  Across  the 
valley  eastward  is  the  Belstone  range  of  tors,  and  beyond  that  part 
of  the  Moor  Brook  Valley  known  as  Halstock  Cleave  (S.  Ex.  41)  is 
seen  the  beautiful  Ashbury  Tor,  from  nowhere  beheld  to  greater 
advantage.  Close  to  this  are  the  mounds  of  the  ancient  entrenchment 
already  alluded  to  (S.  Ex.  40). 

Passing  across  Chapel  Lands  to  its  N.E.  corner,  near  which  we 
shall  observe  three  stones  curiously  placed,  we  make  our  way  by  a 
narrow  path  down  through  Halstock  Wood  to  Chapel  Ford  (T.  36); 


BELSTONE   TO   OKEHAMPTON.  65 

on  the  East  Ockment,  supposed  to  be  identical  with  that  mentioned 
in  the  Perambulation  of  1240,  and  the  Survey  of  1609.  Here  are 
stepping-stones  by  which  we  may  cross,  although  this  is  not  to  be 
done  when  the  stream  is  in  flood.  The  track  runs  up  the  side  of  the 
hill  L.  from  the  ford,  and  will  bring  us  very  near  to  Cleave  Tor 
(S.  Ex.  41 ),  where  is  a  stroll  R.  Into  this  we  turn,  and  passing  through 
a  moor  gate  opening  upon  a  narrow  lane  shall  speedily  reach  the  road 
coming  up  L.  from  East  Lake  (see  ante),  where  we  turn  R.  and  follow 
it  direct  to  Belstone. 

BELSTONE  TO  OKEHAMPTON.  (Reverse  of  the  preceding, 
q.v.,  for  descriptions).  BY  ROAD.  Old  vicarage  gate  ;  straight  down 
the  hill  to  East  Lake  ;  turn  I,,  to  railway  arch  ;  cross  road,  and  up  the 
lane  to  the  highway  ;  turn  L.  down  Bartons  Hill  to  the  town. 

Path  to  Station  from  Fatherford  Viaduct.  As  above  to  the  railway 
arch  ;  then  down  L.  to  the  viaduct ;  cross  the  Ockment  at  the  foot- 
bridge, and  follow  the  path,  with  the  railway  above  L.,  to  the  station. 

By  Chapel  Ford  and  Halstock  (T.  36).  Old  vicarage  gate  ;  a  short 
distance  beyond  turn  L.  to  the  common  ;  leave  Cleave  Tor  on  R.  ; 
descend  by  the  track  L.  to  Chapel  Ford  ;  cross  the  Ockment ;  follow 
path  R.  up  through  Halstock  Wood  to  Chapel  Lands  ;  cross  this  to 
Halstock  Farm  and  on  to  the  bridge  over  Moor  Brook  ;  pass  up  with 
wall  on  L.  to  gate,  outside  which  the  road  leads  down  the  hill.  Through 
the  gate  in  the  corner  R.  for  the  station  ;  down  L.  for  the  town. 

BY  ROAD  TO  STICKLEPATH,  WITH  BRANCH  TO  BEL- 
STONE.  This  forms  the  best  carriage  road  to  Belstone,  3^  m.  ;  Stickle- 
path  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  Cosdon,  on  the  direct  road  to  Exeter, 
and  is  3^  m.  from  the  town.  We  cross  the  East  Bridge  and  make  our 
way  up  the  Bartons  Hill.  One  mile  from  the  bridge  we  pass  over  the 
railway,  close  to  Fatherford  farmhouse,  which  lies  L.  (The  road  R. 
runs  down  to  Fatherford  Viaduct),  i  J  m.  further  on  we  reach  a  small 
piece  of  common  known  as  Tongue  End,  where  a  road  turns  up  the 
hill  R.  for  Belstone,  close  to  a  large  parish  boundary  stone.  (This 
road  branches  near  the  top  of  the  little  common  ;  keep  R.  for  the  village, 
which  is  about  i  m.  distant).  On  the  L.  as  we  proceed  towards  Stickle- 
path  is  Combeshead  Farm,  well  named  from  its  situation,  where,  it  is 
said,  some  Royalist  troopers  once  hid  themselves,  and  cut  off  the  cock's 
head,  lest  his  crowing  should  draw  attention  to  their  place  of  refuge.* 
Just  beyond  this  a  lane  branches  L-  to  Bude  Farm,  and  here  is  an 
ancient  stone,  having  markings  on  three  of  its  sides.  [See  Crosses, 
Chap.  XL,  where  also  the  stones  at  Sticklepath  and  Belstone  are 
described.]  About  £  m.  further  on  Sticklepath  is  reached. 

Reverse. — Pass  up  the  western  road  by  Lady  Well,  leaving  the 
school  L.  ;  then  Bude  Lane  is  passed  R.  ;  then  Combeshead  also  R.  ; 
Tongue  End ;  the  railway  bridge  near  Fatherford  Farm ;  pass  down 
the  Bartons  Hill  to  the  town. 


FothergilTs  Notes  to  Bridges'  Barony  and  Town  of  Okehampton* 


66  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 


Ex.  14. — Mfldon,  The  Island  of  Rocks,  Black  Tor  Copse,  Sandy 
Ford  [High  Willes,  Yes  Tor],  Lints  Tor,  Dinger  Tor,  about  1 1  m.  With 
Extension  to  Great  Kneeset,  about  2\  m.  more. 

Our  road  from  the  town  will  lead  us  by  the  Union  House  to  the 
northern  slope  of  Okehampton  Park.  But  if  our  starting-point  be 
the  station  we  pass  along  by  the  houses  facing  the  railway  to  Westhill 
Villa,  where  we  reach  the  camp  road.  Here  a  gate  will  give  us  admit- 
tance to  the  park,  and  our  path  will  soon  effect  a  junction  with  the 
lower  one.  As  we  proceed  we  have  a  view  of  the  castle  on  the  further 
'side  of  the  river,  which  flows  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Parts  of  the  ruin 
are  hidden  by  the  trees,  but  the  keep  is  lifted  high  above  them.  On 
the  hill-side  across  which  our  way  lies  are  numerous  ancient  hollies, 
some  of  them  being  of  considerable  size.  When  about  2  m.  from  the 
town  we  draw  near  the  Ockment,  which  is  spanned  by  the  lofty 
Meldon  Viaduct.  On  the  further  side  of  the  stream  the  grey  rocks  of 
Burrow  Cleave,  or  Cliff,  draped  with  creeping  plants,  rise  from  amid 
the  trees,  and  here  a  track  leads  up  to  the  hamlet  of  Meldon  (S.  Ex.  34). 

We  here  enter  Meldon  Gorge,  which  extends  from  this  point  to 
Vellake  Corner.  A  track  runs  up  the  hill  L.,  and  after  crossing  a  part 
of  Black  Down,  reaches  the  Redaven  (T.  33)*  ;  but  we  shall  follow  the 
one  on  the  R.  bank  of  the  Ockment  (T.  33),  leaving  it,  however,  at  the 
point  where  the  Redaven  falls  into  that  stream.  On  crossing  the 
affluent  the  track  ascends  Longstone  Hill  L.,  a  name  perhaps  derived 
from  a  menhir,  though  none  exists  there  now  (cf  Longstone,  Ex.  7), 
but  we  pass  along  at  its  foot.  High  above  the  W.  bank  of  the  river 
is  Meldon  Down,  on  which,  in  1643,  an  encounter  took  place  during 
a  stormy  night  between  the  Royalists  and  the  Parliamentarians  under 
Major  James  Chudleigh,  who  was  quartered  at  Okehampton  at  the 
time.  Much  of  the  down  has  probably  since  been  covered  with  fields. 
We  shall  notice  a  track  running  down  the  side  of  it  to  a  ford  (T.  33), 
where  also  are  some  stepping-stones  called  Higher  Bowden  Steps 
(S.  Ex.  35).  £  m.  beyond  these  we  reach  a  little  tributary  stream 
separating  Longstone  Hill  from  Homerton  Hill,  the  great  rounded 
eminence  we  now  see  rising  before  us.  This  tributary  is  sometimes 
known  as  the  Homerton  Brook,  but  its  true  name  is  the  Fishcombe 
Water.  It  has  its  source  in  a  charming  little  hollow,  where  dwarf 
oaks  grow,  high  up  on  the  hill.  At  the  point  where  it  falls  into  the 
Ockment  are  the  long  deserted  workings  of  Homerton  Mine. 

Homerton  Hill  is  exceedingly  steep,  and  sweeps  down  abruptly 
to  a  piece  of  level  ground,  around  which  the  river  makes  a  bend.  We 
do  not  here  follow  the  course  of  the  latter,  but  pass  along  the  foot  of 
the  hill,  meeting  it  again  further  up.  The  high  ground  that  rises  before 
us  is  Corn  Ridge,  near  the  summit  of  which  is  Branscombe's  Loaf 
(Ex.  13).  As  we  pass  round  the  base  of  Homerton  we  notice  a  small 

*  Pronounced  Red-a-ven,  with  the  stress  on  the  last  syllable. 
p  Strangers  sometimes  lay  this  on  the  a,  which  is  wrong.  The  name  has 
a  aothing  to  do  with  avon,  water.  It  is  really  the  red  fen  brook,  the 
Dartmoor  vernacular  being  responsible  for  the  change  of  the  /  into  v , 
sn  id  for  the  insertion  of  the  a.  Another  stream  in  the  locality  is  the 
£a  .ackaven  ;  in  this  name  the  stress  is  similarly  on  the  last:syljabje. 


EXCURSION  14.     THE  ISLAND  OF  ROCKS.  67 

stream  coming  down  from  the  S.W.  The  point  where  it  falls  into  the 
Ockment  is  known  as  Vellake  Corner,  and  forms  one  of  the  bounds 
between  the  commons  of  Okehampton  and  Sourton.  The  little  Vellake 
rises  not  far  below  Iron  Gates  (Ex.  13),  and  one  tiny  feeder,  dry  in 
summer,  runs  into  it  from  Corn  Hole  (Ex.  13).  Here  we  leave  Meldon 
Gorge  and  enter  the  narrow  valley  that  extends  up  into  the  forest, 
where  the  hills  on  either  side  rise  to  a  still  greater  height,  and  where 
the  scenery  becomes  even  more  wild  and  grand  than  that  through 
which  we  have  just  passed.  We  again  welcome  the  river,  which  is  to 
be  our  companion  through  the  defile,  and  shall  make  for  ourselves  a 
path  above  its  eastern  bank.  Speedily  the  character  of  our  surround- 
ings begins  to  change,  and  ere  we  have  advanced  many  steps  we  look 
upon  a  picture  not  surpassed  on  Dartmoor  for  a  happy  mingling  of  the 
stern  and  rugged  with  that  which  is  beautiful.  Below  us,  in  a  wild 
glen,  is  the  Island  of  Rocks  [described  in  Gents,  Chap.  IV.]  thickly 
clothed  with  low  trees  and  bushes,  a  cascade  at  its  upper  end  and 
another  at  its  lower.  Above  it  is  a  deep  and  narrow  gorge,  down  which 
the  river  rushes  as  through  a  long,  darkened  trough.  Trees  grow  on 
the  steep  banks,  and  the  grey  granite  is  partly  covered  with  ivy  and 
creeping  plants.  At  its  head  we  may  make  our  way  on  the  boulders  to 
the  centre  of  the  stream,  and  look  down  through  this  miniature  canyon, 
whence  comes  the  never-ceasing  roar  of  the  waters. 

[Should  the  visitor  desire  to  cross  the  Ockment  he  will  find  one  or 
two  places  either  below  the  Island,  or  at  the  head  of  the  gorge,  where 
ke  may  do  so.  A  route  to  the  Island  via  Meldon,  and  by  the  L.  bank, 
is  given  post,  S.  Ex.  35.] 

On  the  side  of  the  hill  above  the  L.  bank  of  the  Ockment  is  Shil- 
stone  Tor,  the  name  being,  perhaps,  a  corruption  of  shelf  stone,  or 
hanging  stone,  but  not  necessarily  an  artificially  placed  one.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  valley,  i.e.,  the  eastern  side,  but  further  from  us,  and 
at  a  much  greater  elevation,  is  Black  Tor  (S.  Ex.  36).  Viewed  from 
below  the  Island  of  Rocks  this  tor  appears  to  consist  of  one  pile  only, 
but  from  the  point  we  have  now  reached  its  triple  crown  is  plainly 
seen.  Passing  upward  we  shortly  reach  another  small  island,  but  of 
a  character  altogether  different  from  the  former,  its  level  surface  being 
covered  with  turf  and  patches  of  heather.  About  100  yards  above  it 
the  river  falls  over  a  ledge  of  rocks,  forming  a  fine  cascade  ;  near  by 
some  withies  are  growing,  and  on  the  I,,  bank  is  a  huge  lump  of  granite 
partially  covered  with  ivy.  In  our  progress  up  this  part  of  the  valley 
we  shall  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  number  of  bushes  of  various 
kinds  that  grow  near  the  river,  and  above  all  shall  note  the  presence 
of  several  dwarf  oaks.  By-and-bye  the  latter  become  more  numerous, 
and  then  it  is  seen  that  an  oak  wood,  similar  to  Wistman's  Wood  on 
the  Dart  (Ex.  5),  fills  part  of  the  valley.  It  is  situated  below  the  triple 
tor  from  which  it  took  its  ancient  name  of  Black  Torre  Beare,  now 
however,  being  known  as  Black  Tor  Copse.  Documentary  evidence 
exists  snowing  that  this  wood  was  once  very  much  more  extensive 
than  at  present ;  it  probably  stretched  from  the  Island  of  Rocks  into 
the  forest.  There  is  mention  of  it  by  the  jurors  of  the  1609  Survey, 
and  also  in  the  Lydford  Court  Rolls  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth.  On  the 
W.  bank  of  the  Ockment,  above  the  small  hollow  opposite  to  which 
the  upper  island  referred  to  is  situated,  is  another  and  a  larger  one. 
named  Hawks'  Hollow.  It  forms  a  kind  of  huge  amphitheatre,  above 


68  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

which  are  the  masses  of  granite  called  the  Slipper  Stones  (Ex.  13). 
Its  lower  part  is  covered  with  some  old  tin  workings  known  as 
Crocker's  Pits. 

As  we  make  our  way  up  the  valley  a  hill  crowned  with  rocks  that 
have  very  much  the  appearance  of  a  tower  comes  into  view  at  the  head 
of  it.  This  is  Lints  Tor,  and  although  it  rises  to  a  height  of  1,605  feet, 
it  looks  almost  low  against  the  hills  on  either  side.  Passing  the  ancient 
wood,  and  finding  for  ourselves  a  path  along  the  foot  of  the  steep 
declivity  under  Forsland  Ledge  (Ex.  15),  we  reach  Sandy  Ford,  to 
which  the  forest  boundary  line  comes  down  from  Stinka  Tor  (Ex.  13), 
and  which  is  named  as  one  of  the  bondmarks. 

Here  a  boundary  stone  will  be  noticed  ;  it  marks  the  line  which  is 
drawn  up  the  hill  N.E.,  between  the  forest  and  Okehampton  Common. 
There  is  abundant  evidence  that  this  line  formerly  ran  from  the  ford 
to  High  Willes,  and  thence  to  Mil  Tor  and  Row  Tor  (see  Perambulation 
in  the  Terms  section),  and  consequently  much  that  is  now  reckoned 
as  forming  part  of  the  common  was  once  within  the  bounds  of  the 
royal  hunting-ground. 

[High  Willes  and  Yes  Tor  may  be  ascended  from  Sandy  Ford,  but 
the  climb  is  a  long  one.  The  first  named  height  is  nearly  a  mile  from 
the  ford  in  a  N.N.E.  direction,  and  700  feet  above  it.  These  points 
are  noticed  in  Ex.  15.] 

[Extension  to  Great  Kneeset.  About  £  m.  above  Sandy  Ford  is 
Kneeset  Foot,  where  the  little  tributary  referred  to  in  R.  3  comes  down 
from  Broad  Ami  combe  Hole.  To  the  L.,  or  S.  of  it,  is  Great  Kneeset, 
which  may  be  readily  reached  from  the  ford  by  tracing  the  Ockment 
upward,  following  the  R.  bank  to  the  first  sharp  bend,  \  m.  above  the 
point  where  the  tributary  falls  into  it.  From  this  bend,  where  the 
course  of  the  Ockment  is  changed  from  S.S.W.  to  N.N.W.,  the  summit 
of  Kneeset  is  distant  hardly  £  m.  E.S.E.,  and  here  the  river  must  be 
crossed.  No  tor  crowns  this  hill,  only  a  few  small  rocks  nearly  on  a 
level  with  the  ground.  It  is,  however,  well  worth  ascending,  as  it 
commands  a  fine  view  of  the  range  capped  by  Willes  (Ex.  15)  N.N.W. 
to  N.  and  Ockment  Hill  (Ex.  16)  N.E.  ;  the  Cranmere  fen  and  Black 
Ridge  on  the  E.  and  S.E.  ;  Little  Kneeset  (Ex.  n  and  C.R.  ie> 
and  Fur  Tor  (Ex.  n)  to  the  S.  ;  and  Amicombe  Hill  (Ex.  12), 
backed  by  the  lofty  range  of  which  Great  Links  Tor  (Ex.  12) 
is  the  highest  point,  on  the  W.  N.E.  of  the  summit  of  Great 
Kneeset  is  a  hollow  known  as  Jackman's  Bottom,  through  which  a 
tiny  feeder  trickles  to  the  Ockment.  The  Kneeset  surroundings  are 
noticed  in  C.R.  5.  The  rambler,  instead  of  keeping  close  to 
the  river  on  leaving  Sandy  Ford  for  Kneeset,  may  take  Lints 
Tor,  which  rises  above  its  R.  bank,  on  his  way.  If  he  does  this  he 
will  cross  the  Ockment  about  midway  between  the  bend  before  named, 
and  another  over  \  m.  above  it,  called  Kneeset  Nose,  where  the  river 
receives  Brim  Brook.  He  will  find  no  difficulty  in  doing  this,  Kneeset 
being  in  full  view  from  Lints  Tor.  It  lies  S.E.  by  S.,  and  is  about  i £  m. 
distant.  The  return  from  Kneeset  may  be  made  either  by  way  of  the 
lower  bend,  W.N.W.  from  the  summit,  when  the  Ockment  will  be 
followed  downward,  or  by  Kneeset  Nose,  N.  by  W.,  in  which  case 
Brim  Brook,  which  flows  from  the  north,  will  be  followed  up  nearly 
to  its  source,  less  than  i  m.,  when  the  rambler  will  turn  up  the  hilL 
L.,  i  m.  to  Dinger  Tor.  See  S.  Ex.  37.] 


EXCURSION  15.     FITZ'S  WELL,  OKEHAMPTON  PARK.        69 

Above  Sandy  Ford  the  Lints  Tor  Brook  falls  into  the  Ockment, 
and  on  reaching  this  point  we  leave  the  river  and  make  our  way  direct 
to  the  tor,  which  is  close  at  hand  L.  After  having  viewed  this  curious 
pile  we  turn  N.E.  by  N.,  and  pass  up  the  hill  to  the  single  mass  of  rock 
known  as  Dinger  Tor,  1,810  feet.  (The  summit  of  High  Willes  is  J  m. 
N. W.  by  N.  See  R.  15).  Here  we  are  on  the  line  of  the  ancient  track 
from  Okehampton  to  Post  Bridge  (T.  34,  79,  78),  that  part  of  it  running 
out  to  the  tor  being  still  used  as  already  stated  (T.  34)  for  the 
conveyance  of  peat.  Near  by  a  number  of  ties  will  be  seen.  The 
track,  which  will  be  struck  a  little  way  beyond  the  tor,  runs  northward 
between  West  Mil  Tor  L.,  and  Row  Tor  R.,  and  will  bring  the  rambler 
to  Moor  Gate,  which  opens  upon  Okehampton  Park.  This  part  of  it 
is  noticed  the  reverse  way  in  Ex.  1 5 .  From  Moor  Gate  we  follow  the 
road  across  the  park,  taking  care  not  to  turn  L.,  and  at  the  distance  of 
about  £  m.  shall  pass  Fitz's  Well,  which  is  close  to  a  hedge  L.  (Ex.  15). 
Just  below  this  the  road  turns  abruptly  to  the  L.  at  a  gate.  If  the 
rambler  is  making  his  way  to  the  station  he  will  pass  through  this  ; 
if  to  the  town,  he  may  either  take  that  way  or  follow  the  road  down 
the  hill. 

Ex.  15. — Yes  Tor,  High  Willes,  Forsland  Ledge,  Dinger  Plain, 
West  Mil  for,  Row  Tor,  about  9|  m.  To  Yes  Tor  direct  (via  Redaven 
Ford),  4  m. 

The  route  to  Fitz's  Well,  which  is  our  first  point,  has  already  been 
sketched  (Okehampton  to  Belstone  Routes).  On  reaching  the  brow 
of  the  hill  the  old  cross  that  marks  the  spring  will  be  seen  R.  For 
many  years  this  lay  on  the  ground  neglected,  but  it  is  now  set  upon  a 
mound,  built  of  earth  and  stone.  Tradition  says  that  the  cross  was 
brought  from  St.  Michael's  Chapel,  at  Halstock,  but  there  is  probably 
no  foundation  for  this.  We  have  already  stated  that  to  this  well  a 
story  similar  to  the  one  related  of  that  on  the  Blackabrook,  near 
Princetown,  attaches  (Ex.  6).  This  was  told  to  me  several  years  ago 
by  the  late  Miss  Luxmore,  of  Okehampton,  who  was  joint  owner  of  the 
park,  and  describes  how  a  man  and  his  wife  having  lost  their  way 
when  riding  over  this  part  of  the  moor,  presumably  led  astray  by  the 
pixies,  recovered  it  on  reaching  the  well,  thus  justifying  the  lady's 
opinion,  previously  expressed,  that  they  would  only  do  so  on  finding 
water.  (Crosses,  Chap.  XI.)  It  is  fortunate  that  when  they  reached 
the  pool  it  was  not  as  it  is  said  to  have  been  in  the  month  of  September, 
1676,  when,  in  consequence  of  the  dry  summer,  no  water  was  to  be 
seen  there.  In  this  state  it  is  not  infrequently  found  to-day.  Its  name 
connects  it  with  the  Fitz  family,  to  whom  the  manor  of  Meldon  once 
belonged.  Like  many  other  wells  it  probably  had  miraculous  powers 
ascribed  to  it,  and  was  formerly  visited  by  the  youths  and  maidens 
of  the  neighbourhood  on  the  morning  of  Easter  Day. 

A  short  distance  beyond  the  well,  at  the  top  of  the  ascent,  a  fine 
view  of  the  moor  suddenly  unfolds  itself.  To  the  L.,  in  the  distance, 
is  Cosdon,  and  nearer  to  us  the  Belstone  range.  Halstock  Down  rises 
beyond  the  confines  of  the  park,  not  far  off  ;  and  to  the  R.  of  that,  in 
succession,  Row  Tor,  West  Mil  Tor,  and  Yes  Tor  are  seen  ;  and  still 
further  R.,  beyond  the  camp  ground,  Black  Down.  The  camp  occupies 
a  considerable  portion  of  this  part  of  the  park.  There  are  houses  and 
bungalows  for  the  officers,  huts  for  the  men,  and  ranges  of  shelters  for 


70  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

the  horses.  There  are  also  a  recreation  room,  cook  houses,  and 
numerous  other  offices,  and  when  the  batteries  are  here  during  summer 
a  very  animated  scene  is  presented. 

A  little  further  on  we  leave  the  camp  road,  which  is  marked  with 
white  stones,  and  branch  L,.  to  Moor  Gate,  immediately  outside  which 
is  a  ford,  and  a  footbridge  over  the  Moor  Brook.  Near  by,  L.,  is  a 
cottage,  and  across  two  fields  is  seen  Pudhanger  farmhouse.  We  do 
not  cross  the  stream,  but  turn  R.  and  follow  the  rough  road  between 

.  Row 
Tor. 


FROM  MOOR  BROOK,  LOOKING  S. 

it  and  the  park  wall,  our  path  now  being  the  track  leading  to'Dinger 
Tor,  and  which  has  already  been  described  (T.  34).  It  will  lead  us 
between  Row  Tor  and  West  Mil  Tor,  and  may  be  seen  from  the  point 
we  have  now  reached  running  up  the  side  of  the  latter.  One  or  two 
tracks  cross  our  own,  and  just  beyond  Anthony  Stile,  where  the  wall 
turns  away  R.,  a  road  runs  R.  over  the  shoulder  of  Black  Down 
(T.  33,  S.  Ex.  35).  But  we  do  not  leave  the  Moor  Brook  ;  we  keep  it 
on  the  I,.,  and  it  will  be  our  companion  nearly  to  its  source.  Between 
Row  Tor  L.,  and  West  Mil  Tor  R.,  is  Creaber's  Hole,  through  which 
Moor  Brook  runs,  and  here  we  shall  notice,  as  we  pass  upward,  some 
railings  enclosing  a  small  space.  It  is  the  place  where  the  water  is 
taken  in  for  use  at  the  camp.  When  directly  between  Row  Tor  and 
Mil  Tor  the  distant  hills  come  into  view,  and  we  see  away  to  the  L.  the 
Belstone  range  with  Cosdon  to  the  R.  of  it.  Just  here  a  branch  track 
crosses  the  brook  and  runs  towards  Row  Tor.  As  we  climb  the  hill 
many  other  heights  disclose  themselves.  First  East  Mil  Tor  (Ex.  16) 
is  seen,  very  near  to  us,  with  Steeperton  Tor  (Ex.  17)  beyond  it  ;  then 
shortly  after,  between  these  two,  the  rocks  of  Wild  Tor  appear  (Ex.  19)  ; 
a  few  steps  further  on  Hound  Tor  (Ex.  17),  with  Ock  Tor  (Ex.  17) 
below  it,  become  visible  to  the  L.  of  Steeperton.  To  the  R.  of  the 
latter,  and  far  away,  is  Newtake,  partly  hidden  by  Ockment  Hill. 

At  the  head  of  Moor  Brook  is  a  small  mire  and  an  old  stream  work, 
and  on  the  E.  side  of  this  are  the  vestiges  of  another  track.  But  we 
leave  the  stream  and  the  track  soon  after  passing  the  branch  track  above 
mentioned,  and  strike  R.,  under  West  Mil  Tor,  toward  the  foot  of  Yes 
Tor,  which  is  now  in  full  view,  and  marked  by  a  flag-staff  on  its  summit, 
our  direction  being  about  S.W.  On  our  way  we  shall  pass  three  piles  of 
rock  S.  of  West  Mil  Tor,  and  forming,  as  it  were,  outlying  masses  of  it. 


EXCURSION  15.      YES  TOR.  71 

Grossing  the  Redaven  (Ex.  14),  here  only  a  small  stream,  we 
commence  the  ascent  of  the  tor,  taking  care  to  keep  well  to  the  R., 
in"  order- to  avoid  the  great  clatter  that  streams  from  its  south-eastern 
side. 

1 '  [Yes  Tor  may  also  be  conveniently  reached  from  Okeharqpton 
Park  by  way  of  Redaven  Ford,  which  is,  indeed,  rather  the  shorter  ' 
route  of  the  two.  The  track  branches  R.  from  the  one  just  described 
(see  also  T.  33)  near  Anthony  Stile,  and  running  up  the  hill  S.W.  reaches 
a  ford  on  the  Redaven  (T.  33),  the  distance  from  the  stile  to  this  point 
being  i  m.  From  here  the  rambler  may  either  make  straight  for  the 
tor,  which  is  about  -J  m.  S.,  and  more  than  700  feet  above  him,  or  he 
may  follow  up  the  stream  to  Redaven  Dip,  which  is  the  way  sometimes 
traversed  by  peat  carts,  as  a  rough  track  will  show.  When  between 
West  Mil  Tor  L.,  and  Yes  Tor  R.,  he  will  leave  the  stream  and  ascend 
the  hill.  The  distance  from  the  town  to  the  summit  is  about  4  m.] 

The  fine  pile  of  rocks  of  which  Yes  Tor  consists  may  be  easily 
ascended  ;  indeed,  on  the  W.  side  a  path  has  been  made  by  which  it  is 
possible  to  ride  almost  to  the  top  of  the  tor.  On  the  highest  rock  is 
the  staff  already  referred  to,  on  which  the  danger  flag  is  hoisted  during 
the  artillery  practice.  Due  W.  of  the  rocks  is  a  large  tumulus,  and 
there  are  indications  of  another  having  existed  between  the  tor  and 
High  Willes  ;  flint  flakes  have  been  found  near  the  tor.  As  the  view 
from  Willes,  \  m.  S.,  which  on  the  moorland  side  is  even  more 
extensive  than  that  seen  beheld  this  prominent  height,  is  hereafter 
described,  it  is  only  necessary  now  to  briefly  indicate  those  points 
that  are  not  to  be  seen  from  it.  Much  of  the  in-country  over  which 
the  eye  ranges  from  this  tor  is  hidden  from  the  beholder  on  Willes. 
The  prospect  there  is  almost  entirely  a  moor  one  ;  from  Yes  Tor  it  is 
one  of  wild  upland  on  one  side  and  cultivated  country  on  the  other. 
The  camp,  and  the  roads  that  have  been  cut  as  approaches  to  it,  spoil 
the  picture  presented  from  this  tor  when  looking  towards  the  north. 
These  are  altogether  out  of  keeping  with  our  surroundings  ;  they  take 
from  us  that  sense  of  loneliness  which  the  absence  of  man's  work 
imparts,  and  in  which  there  is  so  much  charm  when  wandering  on 
Dartmoor.  The  farm  lands  seen  in  this  direction  do  not  do  this  to  any 
extent,  for  although  the  cultivator's  hand  is  there  visible,  his  work  is 
too  far  away  to  thrust  itself  prominently  into  the  picture.  Looking 
down  into  the  valley  of  the  Ockment  W.  we  see  Shilstone  Tor,  and  the 
summit  of  Black  Tor  (S.  Ex.  36)  rising  over  the  edge  of  the  common  ; 
beyond  these  are  Corn  Ridge  and  the  Sourton  Tors  (Ex.  13).  We  also 
get  a  good  view  of  Homerton  Hill  and  Longstone  Hill  far  down  below 
us,  though  seeming  to  rise  to  a  great  height  above  us  as  we  passed 
up  through  Meldon  Gorge  (Ex.  14).  Beyond  this  northern  verge  of 
the  moor  we  look  over  a  vast  expanse  of  fields  and  woodland,  with 
here  and  there  a  cluster  of  dwellings.  Much  of  North  Devon  is  visible, 
and  also  a  great  part  of  North-East  Cornwall.  Looking  into  the  moor 
we  see  where  the  lonely  Cranmere  hides  itself,  though  its  situation 
can  be  discerned  better  from  Willes.  In  a  direction  S.S.E.  by  E.  the 
distant  hills  will  be  seen  to  dip  behind  a  nearer  ridge,  the  second 
from  us,  the  first  stretching  away  from  our  feet  (see  post).  To  the 
L.  of  this  dip  is  the  pool,  which  bears  S.S.E.  from  the  tor.  It  might 
be  considered  rather  strange  that  such  a  prominent  object  as  Yes  Tor, 
although  on  the  line  of  the  original  boundary  of  the  forest,  is  not 


72  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

mentioned  in  the  Perambulation  of  1240,  or  in  subsequent  Surveys. 
But  this  is  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  Willes,  which  is  also 
on  the  line,  and  is,  as  we  have  seen,  quite  near  to  it,  is  named  as  the 
bondmark  here.  In  a  note  in  Bridges'  Okehampton,  setting  forth  the 
ancient  bounds  on  Dartmoor  belonging  to  that  parish,  the  tor  is  referred 
to  as  "  Eastor,  alias  Highest  Tor." 

Descending  from  this  lofty  station  we  shall  make  our  way  to  High 
Willes,  which  attains  an  even  greater  elevation,  being  indeed,  not  only 
the  highest  point  on  Dartmoor,  but  in  England  south  of  The  Peak  in 
Derbyshire.*  For  many  years  Yes  Tor  was  popularly  supposed  to 
occupy  this  position  (though  the  moormen  did  not  hold  this  opinion), 
but  the  latest  Ordnance  Survey  shows  the  height  of  Willes  to  be  2,039 
feet,  or  12  feet  higher  than  Yes  Tor.  They  may  be  said  to  stand  on 
the  same  hill,  the  dip  between  them  being  very  slight  indeed. 

Row  Tor.  West  Mil  Tor,  Yes  Tor,  and  Willes  form  a  range  extend- 
ing from  Halstock  Down,  on  the  N.E.,  to  the  West  Ockment  on  the 
S.W.  The  first  three  are  in  a  line  running  N.E.  and  S.W.,  but  Willes 
is  due  S.  of  Yes  Tor.  On  the  N.W.  side  of  this  range,  that  is  to  say, 
on  the  side  near  the  cultivated  lands,  is  that  part  of  Okehampton 
Common  comprising  Homerton  Hill,  I,ongtone  Hill,  and  Black  Down, 
and  also  Okehampton  Park  ;  on  its  S.E.  side  towards  the  forest,  are 
Row  Tor  Ridge  and  Dinger  Plain.  Row  Tor  Ridge,  which  is  very 
stony,  lies  to  the  S.  of  the  tor  so  named,  and  slopes  eastward  to  the 
Blackaven  ;  Dinger  Plain,  usually  called  only  Dinger,  is  a  continuation 
southward  of  this  ridge,  but  is  of  much  greater  extent.  Dinger  Tor 
is  placed  towards  its  southern  end,  and  the  plain  is  bounded  by  the 
Blackaven  and  the  head  waters  of  Brim  Brook  on  the  east. 

High  Willes  has  been  thought  to  have  derived  its  name  from  Huel, 
or  Wheal,  signifying  a  mine,  but  as  old  workings  are  invariably  found 
near  streams,  that  is  not  very  probable.  The  somewhat  similar  name, 
at  least  with  regard  to  its  latter  part,  of  Brown  Willy,  a  hill  in  Corn- 
wall, has  been  supposed  to  be  a  corruption  of  Bron,  or  Bryn,  Gwili. 
But  gwili  means  winding,  or  tortuous,  as  a  path  or  stream,  and  has  no 
bearing  in  the  present  case.  The  suggestion  has  also  been  made  that 
the  root  is  perhaps  to  be  found  in  gwylfa,  a  watching  place,  and  it 
may  be  that  a  look-out  was  once  kept  upon  it  for  signals.  The 
name  appears  in  1532  as  Hight  Wyll,  and  in  later  documents  as  High 
Willows.  There  is  no  tor  on  Willes,  only  an  outcrop  of  rock,  on  the 
highest  part  of  which  is  a  small  tower,  said  to  have  been  built  by  the 
Ordnance  surveyors  about  a  century  ago.  On  the  turf  near  by  are 
the  ruined  walls  of  a  little  shelter. 

Although  the  view  of  the  moor  from  Willes  is  a  very  wide  one,  it 
is  not  so  extensive  as  that  gained  from  Cut  Hill,  and  which  we  have 
already  described  (Ex.  n).  But  we  nevertheless  look  upon  a  picture 
instinct  with  the  spirit  of  Dartmoor.  Incongruous  features  are  absent ; 
great  stretches  of  brown  heath,  with  here  and  there  a  fantastically 
heaped  pile  of  dark  rocks,  alone  are  seen.  We  cannot  fail  to  be 
impressed  with  the  silence  and  the  solitude.  To  the  L.  as  we  face 
southward,  and  beyond  Yes  Tor,  is  West  Mil  Tor,  behind  which  Row 

*  The  Peak  in  Derbyshire,  2,088  feet ;  High  Willes  (the  loftiest  hill 
on  Dartmoor),  2,039  feet.  The  Cumberland  hills  are  much  higher  : 
Skiddaw,  3,022  feet  ;  Helvellyn,  3,055  feet  ;  Scaw  Fell,  3,229  feet. 


EXCURSION  15.       HIGH    WILLES. 


73 


Tor  hides  itself.  A  little  to  the  R.  of  these,  but  further  away,  is  Hal- 
stock  Down,  and  still  further  off  Watchet  Hill,  with  the  track  on  its 
side  (T.  37)  plainly  visible.  R.  of  this  is  the  Belstone  range,  with  East 
Ockment  Farm  under  it  N.E.  by  E.  Beyond  the  range,  in  a  direction 


Cosdon. 


E.N.E. 


E.  Mil  Tor. 


8.E. 


FROM  HIGH 


TJ.N.E.,  rises  Cosdon,  the  summit  of  which  is  exactly  4  m.  distant  in  a 
straight  line.  The  rounded  form  of  this  hill  is  well  seen  from  this 
point.  Immediately  beneath  it  is  the  south  part  of  the  Belstone  range, 
and  in  front  of  that,  and  near  to  us,  is  the  tor  already  spoken  of,  East 
Mil  Tor.  To  the  R.  of  the  latter,  but  further  off,  E.  by  N.,  is  Ock 
Tor,  and  beyond  that  again  White  Hill,  under  Cosdon,  and  Metheral 
Hill.  R.  of  this  is  Little  Hound  Tor,  with  Kennon  Hill  rising  behind 
it.  E.  by  S.  is  Steeperton,  the  fine  tor  at  the  head  of  Taw  Plain 
(Ex.  17),  with  the  wall  crossing  the  ridge  between  the  Taw  and  the 
East  Ockment  (Ex.  16),  and  which  is  continued  to  the  Blackaven. 
The  combe  from  which  the  East  Ockment  issues  will  be  noticed  to 
the  R.  of  East  Mil  Tor,  which  is  covered  from  end  to  end  with  granite, 
and  between  it  and  Steeperton.  E.S.E.,  and  3  m.  away,  is  Wild  Tor, 
with  Watern  Tor  peeping  over  the  ridge  to  the  R.  of  it.  In  the  fore- 
ground, and  not  200  feet  below  us,  is  Dinger  Plain,  over  the  whole 
extent  of  which  we  can  look.  The  little  sheet  of  water  that  we  see 
near  the  source  of  the  Redaven  is  Dinger  Pool,  or  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  the  Pixies'  Pool.  Beyond  the  plain,  southward,  Ockment  Hill 
rolls  away  to  the  dusky  ridge  that  rises  against  the  sky,  its  summit 
being  seen  to  the  R.  of  Watern  Tor.  R.  of  Ockment  Hill  is  Newtake, 
with  the  higher  part  of  White  Horse  Hill.  To  the  R.  of  Newtake  is 
Cranmere,  which  bears  S.E.  by  S.,  and  is  2%  m.  off  in  a  direct  line. 
The  site  of  the  pool  may  be  discovered  in  the  same  manner  as  from 
Yes  Tor,  but  is  more  readily  located  from  this  hill.  We  look  in  a 
direction  about  vS.S.E.,  where  a  distant  hill  (which  is  a  part  of  Cut  Hill) 
is  seen  to  dip  behind  Black  Hill,  and  to  the  ~L,,  of  this  dip,  but  much 
nearer  to  us,  is  the  pool.  Its  exact  situation  is  marked  by  a  dark  cleft 
in  the  side  of  the  ridge.  This  is  the  hollow  in  which  the  \Vest  Ockment 
rises,  and  the  pool  is  at  its  head.  (See  Routes  to  Cranmere).  R.  of 
the  pool  is  Black  Ridge,  in  a  line  with  Dinger  Tor,  the  latter  being 
only  -|-  m.  distant.  S.  of  S.S.E.  is  Great  Kneeset,  2  m.  off,  with  Cut 
Hill  the  same  distance  beyond  it,  and  to  the  R.  of  the  latter  Fur  Tor, 


74  OKEHAMPTON   DISTRICT. 

of  which  we  have  here  a  very  fine  view  Then  comes  the  high  ground 
near  the  source  of  the  Cowsic  and  Walkham  Head,  stretching  away  in 
a  long  range  towards  the  W.,  behind  which  Great  Mis  Tor  lifts  up  his 
rock}  crown  in  a  direction  W.  of  S.,  and  8  m.  away.  There  is  a  dip 
where  the  western  side  of -huge  Standon  drops  to  the  unseen  Tavy. 

Hangingstone  X 

Hill.  Cramnere 


8.K  Dinger  Tor.  8.  by  E. 

FROM  HIGH   WII,I,ES. 

and  then  White  Tor  rises  S.S.W.  Further  R.(  and  looking  across  the 
N.  end  of  Amicombe,  we  see  the  Dunnagoat  Tors,  with  Great  Links 
Tor  rising  high  above  them,  the  most  prominent  of  all  the  rock  piles 
in  the  view.  It  is  about  2i  m.  to  the  S.W.  In  front  of  Great  Links 
and  only  i£  m.  distant,  is"  Kitty  Tor.  To  the  R.  is  Hunt  Tor  and 
Stinka  Tor,  the  latter  overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Ockment.  To  the 
R.  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  are  the  Slipper  Stones,  with  Corn  Ridge 
beyond,  and  still  further  away  in  the  same  direction  the  Sourton  Tors.1 
Beyond  these  there  is  a  grand  stretch  of  distant  in-country,  which 
completes  the  view. 

And  now  we  move  onward  to  a  point  whence  another  picture  is 
presented,  which,  if  it  does  not  embrace  such  a  wide  extent  of  country, 
certainly  possesses  features  which  that  seen  from  Willes  cannot  show. 
We  shall  make  our  way  to  Forsland  Ledge,  or,  as  one  document  gives 
it,  Fosborne  Ledge,  though  this  name  is  never  heard,  a  small  pile  of 
rocks  $  m.  S.W.  of  Willes,  and  about  200  feet  below  it.  The  beholder 
looks  from  it  down  into  the  gorge  of  the  Ockment,  and  upon  a  picture 
that  has  not  many  equals  on  the  moor.  The  range  of  hills  from  New- 
take  by  Black  Ridge,  Cut  Hill,  and  Fur  Tor  to  Great  Mis  Tor,  bounds 
the  view  to  the  S.  We  look  into  the  recesses  of  the  moor  around 
Cranmere,  and  upon  the  two  Kneesets.  Across  the  valley  is  Amicombe, 
and  beyond  it  Great  Links  Tor,  which  from  no  other  point  presents  a 
finer  appearance.  Away  to  the  R.  are  the  rocks  of  Black  Tor  (S.  Ex.  36) 
at  the  foot  of  which  is  seen  the  shelter  from  which  the  artillery  practice 
is  watched,  with  the  in-country  over  the  down  beyond.  But  the 
features  that  will  arrest  the  attention  are  Lints  Tor,  which  came  into 
view  shortly  after  we  left  Willes,  and  the  winding  Ockment  far  down 
below.  The  resemblance  of  the  tor  to  a  castle  has  been  already 
mentioned  (Ex.  14),  and  the  rambler  will  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  it 
here.  The  rocks  crown  a  rounded  hill,  covered  with  grass,  on  which 
are  long  lines  of  heather.  Below  it  on  the  W.  the  Ockment  flows,  the 


EXCURSION  15.      WEST    MIL   TOR.  75-, 

part  of  the  stream  seen  being  that  between  Kneeset  Foot  and  Sandy 
Ford  (Ex.  14).  In  several  parts  of  Dartmoor  are  tors  bearing  a  resem- 
blance to  a  building,  or  to  ruins,  but  nowhere  is  the  illusion  so  perfect 
as  here.  To  the  R.  of  the  tor  Kneeset  Foot  is  seen,  with  the  pass 
sailed  Broad  Amicombe  Hole  above  it  (R.  3).  Great  Kneeset  is  if  m. 
beyond  the  tor  ;  Little  Kneeset  is  a  little  to  the  R.  of  this,  and  I  m. 
further  away.  Forsland  Ledge  is  about  550  feet  above  the  river  ;  the 
hill  on  which  it  is  placed  is  very  steep,  and  plentifully  strewn  witb 
granite.  Quite  close  to  it  is  a  small  tumulus,  within  which  is  what 
appears  to  be  a  ruined  kistvaen. 

Leaving  Forsland  Ledge  we  shall  make  our  way  back  towards 
Willes,  the  summit  of  which  we  keep  L.,  and  passing  over  the  shoulder 
of  the  hill  N.E.  by  E.,  shall  descend  to  the  head  of  the  Redaven,  with 
Dinger  Plain  R.  This  little  stream  runs  for  some  distance  through  a 
shallow  gully  clothed  with  turf,  where  we  shall  find  good  ground. 
Our  path  will  lie  along  the  R.  bank,  and  we  shall  be  led  through  Redaven 
Dip,  between  Yes  Tor  L-,  and  West  Mil  Tor  R.,  to  Redaven  Ford,  500 
feet  below  its  source.  At  the  ford  we  shall  take  the  track  R.  (T.  33,  34), 
which  will  lead  us  direct  to  Moor  Gate,  i£  m.  distant,  from  which  the 
road  to  the  town  is  described  in  Ex.  14. 

Instead  of  returning  by  way  of  Redaven  Dip  the  visitor  may  pass 
over  West  Mil  Tor  and  Row  Tor  to  the  road  leading  to  Moor  Gate. 
He  will  leave  the  Redaven  at  the  bend  under  Yes  Tor,  about  •£  m. 
from  its  source,  and  striking  N.  by  E.  will  soon  reach  the  first-named 
group  of  rocks,  which  is  in  full  view  from  the  bank  of  the  little  stream. 
The  three  outlying  masses  of  which  we  have  already  spoken  will  be 
passed  on  the  way.  West  Mil  Tor  is  certainly  worth  a  visit ;  the 
largest  pile,  which  forms  the  southern  part  of  the  tor,  is  of  a  conical 
form,  and  rather  striking.  In  the  report  of  the  commissioners  relative 
to  the  boundaries  of  the  Chase  of  Okehampton,  in  1532,  when  it  be- 
longed to  Henry,  Marquis  of  Exeter,  the  tor  is  mentioned  as  "  Milltor," 
but  in  the  description  of  the  bounds  of  the  common  lands  of  Okehampton 
as  at  one  time  recognized,  and  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  it 
appears  as  "  Middle  Tor,  alias  Miltor."  From  this  it  seems  probable 
that  the  name  is  a  corruption  of  middle,  a  word  which  correctly  de- 
scribes the  situation  of  the  tor  with  regard  to  its  two  companions, 
and  that  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  Celtic  melyn,  yellow,  as  has  been 
suggested.  If  this  be  correct  another  instance  is  supplied  of  a  tor 
bearing  a  comparatively  modern  name.  Under  the  rocks  is  a  little 
shed  like  that  at  Black  Tor,  from  which  the  artillery  practice  can  be 
safely  watched,  and  its  results  noted.  Dropping  down  into  the  hollow 
on  the  N.E.,  and  crossing  the  Moor  Brook,  the  visitor  will  ascend  Row 
Tor,  \  m.  distant.  On  the  stony  Row  Tor  Ridge  the  wooden  figures 
forming  the  targets  for  the  artillery  will  often  be  seen.  The  guns> 
which  are  placed  on  Halstock  Down,  sweep  this  ridge  and  Dinger 
Plain.  From  Row  Tor  the  visitor  will  pass  down  the  hill  N.  to  a  track 
(T.  35)  £  m.,  which  he  will  follow  for  a  short  distance  to  the  road  leading 
N.  to  Moor  Gate,  which  is  less  than  i  m.  from  the  tor. 

[The  road  to  the  town  is  described  in  Ex.  14.] 


OKEHAMPTON   DISTRICT. 


Ex.  r6. — The  Blackaven,  East  Mil  Tor.  Ockment  Hill,  The  East 
Ockment,  Crovcnor  Steps,  Halstock  Down,  about  1 1  m.,  including  summit 
of  Ockment  Hill,  and  return  by  Crovenor  Steps  and  Moor  Gate. 

Our  way  will  first  take  us  to  Moor  Gate  (Ex.  15),  where,  instead 
of  turning  R.  as  in  going  to  Yes  Tor,  we  shall  cross  the  Moor  Brook, 
and  follow  the  road  up  the  hill  southward  with  the  Pudhanger  enclosures 
on  our  L.  •£  m.  from  the  brook,  and  soon  after  passing  a  large  sand- 
pit, we  shall  strike  into  a  track  (T.  35)  R.,  just  under  Row  Tor  (Ex.  15). 
Ere  we  have  gone  far  we  shall  notice  by  the  side  of  it  one  of  the  many 
objects  of  a  similar  character  to  be  seen  on  the  moor  ;  it  is  a  granite 
trough  having  two  compartments,  one  of  which  is  broken,  a  flaw  having 
probably  discovered  itself  while  it  was  being  cut.  Below  us  on  the  L. 
is  Row  Tor  Combe,  where  there  is  a  crossing-place  on  the  Blackaven, 
known  as  Middle  Ford.  As  we  proceed  we  have  a  fine  view  of  East 
Mil  Tor,  which  rises  boldly  in  front  of  us.  Away  to  the  L-  is  seen  the 
Belstone  range,  with  the  huge  Cosdon  behind  ;  also  Steeperton  Tor, 
with  Ock  Tor  to  the  L.  of  it,  the  latter,  though  a  small  pile,  here  show- 
ing itself  to  great  advantage.  Nearer  to  us  the  little  Hart  Tor  is  seen, 
on  the  common  at  the  corner  of  the  enclosure  to  which  it  gives  name. 
J  ust  i  i  m.  from  the  point  where  our  track  leaves  the  road  it  reaches 
the  Blackaven,  which  is  here  crossed  by  a  clapper,  known  as  New 
Bridge.  Though  not  quite  what  its  name  would  suggest,  the  structure 
nevertheless  belongs  to  a  comparatively  recent  period.  At  one  time 
I  imagined  that  it  might  have  had  some  connection  with  the  extensive 
Streamwork  close  by  ;  that  peat  was  perhaps  brought  over  it  for  use 
there.  But  I  now  believe  it  to  have  been  erected  at  the  beginning  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  On  the  bank  of  the  Blackaven  a  ruined  wall 
will  be  seen  extending  both  up  and  down  the  stream,  and  which  marks 
an  attempt  to  enclose  a  portion  of  the  forest.  Several  years  ago  I 
learnt  in  the  neighbourhood,  on  good  authority,  that  the  bridge  was 
erected  at  the  same  time  as  the  wall,  and  the  latter  is  not  ancient,  as  a 
farmer,  who  had  lived  on  the  verge  of  the  common  all  his  life,  once  told 
me  that  he  remembered  men  who  had  helped  to  build  it.  It  was  a  part 
of  this  wall  that  we  were  able  to  see  from  Willes  (Ex.  15),  the  area  it 
encloses  being  very  large.  Prom  the  bridge  it  runs  up  to  the  head  of 
the  stream,  i  m.,  where  it  turns  eastward  and  is  carried  over  the  ridge 
to  the  Taw,  crossing  the  East  Ockment  a  short  distance  below  its  source. 
It  then  runs  down  the  Taw  to  Taw  Plain,  and  it  was  doubtless  intended 
to  continue  it  to  a  point  on  this  river  under  Belstone  Tor  (Ex.  17),  where 
a  wall  runs  up  the  hill  and  crossing  the  ridge  between  that  tor  and 
Higher  Tor,  descends  nearly  to  the  East  Ockment,  its  direction  between 
these  points  being  about  W.  A  short  distance  below  where  it  terminates 
is  Crovenor  Steps,  where  the  Blackaven  falls  into  the  East  Ockment, 
and  here  it  is  seen  again,  forming  for  a  short  distance  part  of  the  en- 
closing wall  of  East  Ockment  Farm.  It  is  then  continued  up  the 
Blackaven  to  the  bridge.  The  total  length  of  the  line  here  traced 
is  about  7  miles. 


EXCURSION  16.      THE    IRISHMAN'S   WALL.  77 

The  portion  of  this  wall  running  down  the  hill  from  Belstone  Tor 
towards  the  East  Ockment,  as  also  that  part  of  it  on  the  lower  Blacka- 
ven,  is  known  as  the  Irishman's  Wall.  The  story  goes  that  some 
years  ago  a  project  was  formed  by  an  Irishman  to  enclose  a  part  of 
the  moor  here,  and  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  his  plans  he  brought 
a  number  of  his  countrymen  to  the  locality.  They  set  to  work  building 
the  wall,  creating  no  little  surprise  among  the  Dartmoor  folk,  and 
showing  their  contempt  for  the  rough,  damp  ground  over  which  they 
had  to  walk  to  their  labour  by  going  bare-footed.  The  men  of  Belstone 
and  Okehampton  said  nothing,  but  let  the  work  proceed.  But  they 
had,  notwithstanding,  no  intention  of  allowing  it  to  be  completed. 
They  saw  that  the  taking  in  of  such  an  immense  tract  would  cut  off 
their  commons  from  the  forest.  Consequently,  when  they  considered 
that  a  fitting  time  had  arrived,  they  met  in  force  and  made  such 
breaches  in  the  wall  as  to  render  it  useless.  The  outworks  of  the 
Irishman  having  thus  been  carried  by  storm,  he  evacuated  his  position, 
and  left  the  commoners  victorious. 

Who  the  Irishman  was  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  I  find  in  the 
Additions  to  Risdon's  Survey,  published  in  1811,  that  among  those 
who  are  there  called  "  improvers "  of  Dartmoor,  Dr.  Brown  and 
Mr.  Crawford  are  named  as  having  not  long  previously  to  that  time 
enclosed  land  on  the  verge  of  the  forest  near  Okehampton.  This 
statement  can  only  have  reference  to  the  tract  of  land  within  the 
ruined  wall,  since  there  are  no  other  enclosures  in  the  forest  in  that 
neighbourhood,  and  thus  the  time  of  its  erection  can  be  approximately 
fixed,  and  if  my  informant  was  correct,  which  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt, 
the  time  of  the  building  of  the  bridge  as  well. 

Where  the  wall  runs  by  the  Blackaven  from  Crovenor  Steps  to 
New  Bridge  it  is  carried  nearly  on  the  line  of  the  forest  boundary,  but 
not  actually  so.  The  latter  runs  a  little  to  the  W.  of  the  bridge,  which, 
however,  as  it  is  near  the  line,  is  sometimes  referred  to  as  a  bondmark.* 
Above  the  bridge,  and  on  the  W.  side  of  the  Blackaven,  the  line  is 
carried  through  Curtory  Glitters,  and  across  Dinger  Plain  to  Sandy 
Ford  (Ex.  14),  being  marked  here  and  there  by  a  bondstone. 

New  Bridge  is  18  feet  long,  and  rather  more  than  that  in  width. 
There  are  two  openings  for  the  water,  each  being  about  four  feet  wide 
on  the  lower  side  ;  the  buttresses  and  centre  pier  are  very  thick,  and 
irregularly  built.  It  is  about  8  feet  high  on  its  lower  side,  and  18 
inches  less  than  this  on  its  upper.  Looking  down  the  stream  the 
distant  in-country  is  seen,  backed  by  the  high  land  of  Exmoor. 

The  track  by  which  we  have  reached  the  bridge  is  continued  along 
the  R.  bank  of  the  stream  in  a  southerly  direction  (T.  35.  See  also 
Cranmere  Routes),  and  climbs  the  hill  S.  of  East  Mil  Tor.  i  m.  from 

*  It  is  very  improbable  that  the  forest  boundary  line,  even  if  it 
ever  came  this  way,  and  there  is  ample  evidence  to  show  that  it  did  not 
(see  Perambulation  in  the  Terms  Section),  would  have  been  drawn  as  at 
present  laid  down.  The  Blackaven  would  form  a  convenient  boundary, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  it  would  not  have  been  followed. 
As  it  at  present  stands  this  stream  is  for  some  distance  left  just  outside 
the  forest  bounds ;  an  arrangement  not  altogether  inconvenient  for 
the  Okehampton  commoners. 


78  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

the  bridge  it  is  crossed  by  the  wall  just  noticed,  outside  which  it  is 
continued  for  about  |-  m.  to  the  summit  of  Ockment  Hill,  1,856  feet, 
but  is  there  more  of  the  character  of  a  green  path. 

Leaving  the  track  at  the  bridge  and  striking  almost  due  E.  we 
make  our  way  to  the  northern  end  of  East  Mil  Tor,  which  rises  close 
by.  Then  we  turn  our  steps  southward,  passing  along  the  ridge,  form 
which  there  is  a  fine  view  of  Yes  Tor  and  the  neighbouring  heights. 
Rocks  extend  from  end  to  end  of  this  ridge,  which  is  about  -J-  m.  long. 
On  reaching  its  southern  extremity  we  continue  S.  to  the  wall,  •£  m. 
distant,  noticing  as  we  proceed  a  small  tumulus  near  the  track  which 
comes  up  the  hill  from  the  bridge  on  our  R. 

[We  may  extend  our  walk  from  the  wall  to  the  summit  of  Ock- 
ment Hill,  locally  known  as  Ockaton  Hill,  where  we  shall  find  the 
remains  of  a  large  tumulus.  This  hill,  on  which  there  is  much  broken 
ground,  comprises  that  part  of  the  moor  lying  between  the  springs 
of  the  East  Ockment  and  the  head  of  the  West  Ockment,  and  extends 
westward  to  Brim  Brook.  About  \  m.  S.W.  of  the  summit  a  little 
stream  rises  and  flows  down  through  Vergyland  Combe  to  the  West 
Ockment.  This  combe  is  noticed  in  the  C.R.  5,  and  C.R.  9.  Instead 
of  retracing  our  steps  we  strike  N.E.  for  nearly  i  m.,  avoiding  the  head 
of  the  East  Ockment  on  our  L.,  and  then  N.  to  the  wall,  which  we 
shall  reach  at  a  point  \  m.  E.  of  where  we  left  it,  and  on  the  E.  side  of 
the  combe  in  which  the  Ockment  rises.] 

At  the  wall  we  turn  L.,  i.e.,  eastward,  and  follow  it  for  i  m.,  cross- 
ing on  the  way  a  combe  through  which  the  Ockment  and  a  couple  of 
small  feeders  run.  Having  reached  the  E.  side  of  this  we  turn  north- 
ward, where  we  shall  find  good  ground,  and  shall  make  our  way  down 
the  valley,  with  Middle  Hill  on  the  further  side  of  the  Ockment  on  our 
L.,  to  Skit  Bottom,  where  are  numerous  remains  of  old  mining  operations 
known  as  Rithy  Pits,  and  these  extend  to  the  enclosures  of  East  Ock- 
ment Farm,  about  i4-  m.  down  from  the  wall.  The  river  is  often  known 
in  this  part  of  its  course  as  the  Skit,  and  seems  also  to  have  formerly 
borne  the  name  of  Lede,  at  least  in  the  town  of  Okehampton.  In  a 
journal  kept  by  John  Rattenbury,  "  gentleman  and  burgess,"  in  the 
time  of  Charles  I.,  the  following  entry  occurs  : — "3  August,  1628, 
being  Sabbath  day.  About  four  o'clocke  in  the  afternoon,  imme- 
diately after  evening  prayer  ended  att  the  Church  of  Okehampton,  there 
being  noe  raine  perceived  to  fall  within  or  neare  this  towne,  and  the 
streets  being  then  very  drye,  the  water  now  called  Lede,  or  the  East 
water,  was  suddenly  risen  about  some  V.  foote  at  the  Easte  bridge, 
running  more  violent  than  had  been  usually  knowne,  and  twas  con- 
ceived the  water  did  savour  and  smell  of  some  brimstone." 

[As  we  approach  East  Ockment  Farm  we  shall  strike  a  camp  road, 
which  comes  out  over  Hart  Tor  Hill  and  crosses  the  Ockment.  This 
road  we  may  follow  L.  to  Okehampton  Park,  crossing  the  Blackaven  at 
Ston6  Ford,  sometimes  called  Hart  Tor  (or  Harter)  Ford,  on  the  verge 
of  Halstock  Down.  In  the  other  direction,  i.e.,  southerly,  it  runs  out 
%owards  Taw  Head.] 

We  pass  down  the  valley  with  the  river  still  on  our  I,.,  noticing 
as  we  proceed  the  bridge  over  which  the  road  runs  to  the  farm.  A  few 
score  yards  eastward  of  this  bridge  are  the  remains  of  a  small  circle, 
about  15  feet  in  diameter,  which  probably  once  enclosed  a  kistvaen, 
though  nothing  is  to  be  seen  of  it  now.  A  few  of  the  stones  are  still 


So  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

standing.  Kast  Ockment  Farm  is  situated  within  the  area  that  was 
attempted  to  be  enclosed  by  the  great  wall,  but  was  only  formed  about 
1878.  As  it  came  in  the  line  of  the  artillery  firing  from  Halstock  Down 
a  lease  of  it  was  acquired  by  the  War  Office  from  the  Duchy.  It  is 
still  let  as  a  farm,  but  under  certain  restrictions.  An  under-ground 
shelter  is  provided  in  which  those  who  belong  to  the  place  take  refuge 
when  firing  is  in  progress.  At  the  lower,  or  N.E.  corner,  of  the  farm 
enclosures,  is  the  ford  known  as  Crovenor  Steps,  which  has  been  already 
mentioned,  and  here  we  meet  the  present  forest  bounds,  the  line  being 
drawn  to  this  point  from  Dinger  Plain  along  the  Blackaven.  A  camp 
road  has  been  made  to  the  ford,  and  this  we  now  follow  up  the  slope 
westward,  with  the  higher  part  of  Halstock  Down  on  our  R.,  and  the 
Blackaven,  in  which  we  shall  notice  a  number  of  small  cascades,  on 
our  L.  After  a  walk  of  about  £  m.  we  find  ourselves  near  Stone  Ford, 
i,.,  but  shall  follow  the  road  R.,  and  passing  the  sand-pit  before  referred 
to,  shall  soon  reach  Moor  Gate.  The  route  from  this  point  is  described 
in  Ex.  14. 

[From  Crovenor  Steps  the  return  to  Okehampton  may  be  made 
by  way  of  Halstock  ;  the  walk  will  be  found  more  interesting  than 
that  by  Moor  Gate,  and  the  distance  is  about  the  same.  On  crossing 
the  Ockment  instead  of  following  the  road,  we  pass  up  the  hill  N.N.W. 
to  Kelly's  Corner,  a  little  over  J  m.  distant.  Here  is  a  stone  having 
the  letter  L  cut  upon  it,  and  forming  a  bondmark  of  land  belonging 
to  Lydford.  The  small  portion  of  the  common  of  which  this  stone 
marks  one  of  the  bounds,  though  now  outside  the  forest,  is  nevertheless 
always  regarded  as  "  forest  "  by  those  living  in  the  locality,  and  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  it  was  once  within  the  confines  of  the  ancient 
hunting  ground.  The  possession  of  this  piece  of  common  by  the  Duchy 
is  strong  evidence  that  the  forest  bounds  originally  ran  as  the  old 
Perambulations  and  Surveys  state.  Passing  onward,  with  the  field* 
a  little  to  the  R.,  we  shall  shortly  reach  a  gate  in  a  corner  of  the  com- 
mon, where  a  road  leads  to  Halstock.  Near  to  it  is  Halstock  Pound. 
R.,  a  small  square  enclosure,  used  at  the  drifts  principally  for  ponies. 
Entering  the  gate  we  make  our  way  down  the  road,  with  Chapel  Lands 
on  our  R.  At  the  lower  end  of  this  field  we  strike  the  path  from 
Belstone  to  Okehampton,  which  we  have  already  noticed  (see  ante; 
also  T.  36),  and  turning  i,.  to  Halstock  Farm,  shall  make  our  way  to. 
Okehampton  in  the  manner  described  in  that  route.] 


BORDER   VILLAGES.  8t 


Excursions  from  Belstone  and  Stieklepath. 

Pleasantly  situated  on  the  verge  of  the  common,  Sitcklepath  offers 
many  advantages  to  the  visitor.  It  is  one  of  the  best  points  from 
which  the  fine  frontier  height  of  Cosdon  can  be  ascended  ;  the  charming 
Belstone  Cleave  may  be  reached  in  a  few  minutes  ;  and  the  border 
settlement  that  gives  name  to  the  latter,  and  the  old-fashioned  villages 
of  South  Tawton  and  South  Zeal  are  not  far  off.  Stickle  is  equivalent 
to  the  Anglo-Saxon  sticele,  steep,  a  word  in  constant  use  in  Devonshire, 
and  applied  to  steep  roads  or  roofs,  and  to  the  shallows  of  rivers,  where 
the  dropping  of  the  bed  causes  the  broken  water  to  flow  rapidly. 
Stieklepath  stands  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Taw,  which  runs  between  it 
and  the  wooded  hillside  forming  the  northern  slope  of  Cosdon.  Rising 
not  far  from  Cranmere  this  river  has  a  course  of  about  six  miles  through 
the  moorlands,  and  thence  flowing  northward  falls  into  the  Bristol 
Channel  in  Barnstaple  Bay.  It  was  at  its  mouth  that  the  followers  of 
Alfred  slew  the  twelve  hundred  Danes,  and  captured  the  standard 
woven  by  the  three  sisters  of  Hingwar  and  Hubba,  as  related  in  Asser's 
life  of  the  Saxon  king.  The  chapel  in  the  village,  re-built  in  1875,  is 
said  to  stand  on  the  site  of  a  chantry  built  and  endowed  by  Joan 
Courtenay  in  1 146. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  village  is  a  well  bearing  the  inscription  : 

I,ady  Well.     Drink  and  be  Thankful. 

Near  it,  on  the  edge  of  the  common,  is  an  inscribed  stone  (Crosses, 
Chap.  XL),  and  here  a  road  runs  up  the  valley  to  Belstone,  a  village 
remarkably  well  placed  for  the  Dartmoor  explorer.  Among  old  time 
objects  to  be  seen  there  are  a  moorland  border  church,  a  small  manor 
pound,  and  the  pillars  between  which  formerly  swung  the  castigatory, 
or  ducking-stool.  Named  Bellestham  in  Domesday  (the  ham,  or  lands, 
of  Belles),  the  place  was  later  known  as  Belleston,  and  in  the  time  of 
Henry  II.  belonged  to  Baldwin  de  Belston.  It  is  one  of  the  ancient 
vils. 

Ex.  17. — The  Belstone  Tors,  Steeperton,  M ether al  Hill,  Hound  Tor, 
White  Moor  Stone  and  Circle,  White  Hill,  Taw  Plain,  Birchy  Lake, 
about  8  m. 

Passing  up  the  lane  near  the  W.  end  of  Belstone  Church  we  soon 
reach  the  common,  where,  leaving  the  track  (T.  38)  running  from  the 
moor  gate  to  the  forest,  we  turn  aside  Iy.,  to  Watchet  Hill,  on  which,  as 
before  mentioned,  a  danger  signal  is  displayed  when  artillery  practice 
takes  place  in  this  part  of  the  moor.  This  hill  forms  the  northern 
end  of  the  ridge  between  the  East  Ockment  and  the  Taw,  which  we 
were  able  to  see  when  on  our  ramble  to  Yes  Tor  and  Willes  (Ex.  15). 


82  BELSTONE    AND   STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

On  its  summit  is  a  despoiled  cairn,  about  112  feet  in  circumference, 
though  a  correct  measurement  cannot  well  be  taken,  as  it  is  in  such  a 
dilapidated  condition.  From  this  point  we  shall  proceed  to  Belstone 
Tor,  nearly  |  m.  distant,  in  a  direction  almost  due  S.,  passing  on  the 
way  two  smaller  piles,  the  three  usually  being  spoken  of  as  the  Belstone 
Tors  Oir  the  slope  to  the  R.,  and  near  the  track,  is  the  small  circle 
called  the  Nine  Stones,  or  Nine  Maidens,  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  41  ;  it  is 
passed  shortly  before  the  first  of  the  rock  piles  is  reached. 

Belstone  Tor  (1,567  feet)  stands  a  little  to  the  N.  of  the  Irishman's 
Wall  (Ex.  1 6),  which  is  here  carried  from  the  Taw  over  the  ridge  nearly 
to  the  East  Ockment.  The  whole  of  the  ground  is  encumbered  with 
lumps  of  granite,  the  clatter  on  the  E.  side  of  the  hill  descending  to 
the  Taw  and  covering  both  banks.  On  the  S.  side  of  the  wall  is  Higher 
Tor,  and  on  reaching  this  we  shall  bear  a  little  to  the  R.  to  Winter  Tor, 
a  small  pile  close  to  the  track  which  we  left  at  the  moor  gate  (T.  38), 
and  near  to  the  point  where  it  is  joined  by  another  coming  up  from 
Crovenor  Steps  (T.  37,  Ex.  16).  On  the  further  side  of  the  valley  W., 
is  East  Ockment  Farm,  of  which  we  have  here  a  good  view.  We  now 
follow  the  track,  and  at  the  distance  of  rather  over  a  furlong  shall 
notice  a  low  mound  to  the  L.  of  the  way  ;  in  the  centre  of  this  is  a 
ruined  kistvaen  covered  with  a  granite  slab.  As  we  proceed  along 
the  summit  of  the  ridge  the  whole  of  the  level  valley  known  as  Taw 
Plain  is  in  sight  on  the  L.  At  the  southern  end  of  this  is  the  fine  hill 
crowned  with  Steeperton  Tor,  and  peninsulated  by  the  Taw  on  one  side 
and  by  Steeperton  Brook  on  the  other.  The  latter  stream  rises  on  the 
northern  side  of  Hangingstone  Hill,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
former.  The  western  side  of  the  valley  is  formed  by  the  ridge  along 
which  we  are  making  our  way  ;  on  its  eastern  side  are  Metheral  Hill, 
White  Hill,  and  the  lower  slope  of  Cosdon.  It  extends  northward  to 
the  clatter  below  the  Belstone  Tors,  and  is  about  2  m.  in  length,  and  less 
than  i  m.  in  width  at  its  widest  part.  The  Taw  runs  through  it,  re- 
ceiving the  Steeperton  Brook  at  its  head,  and  Small  Brook  lower  down, 
between  which  two  tributary  streams  is  Metheral  Hill.  Passing  Ock 
Tor,  near  which,  on  the  western  slope  of  the  ridge,  are  some  stones 
placed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  suggest  a  stone  row,  and  noticing  some  old 
tin  workings  at  the  foot  of  the  great  hill  we  are  approaching,  we  soon 
reach  Steeperton  Gorge,  through  which  the  Taw  forces  its  way  to  the 
open  plain  below.  The  further  side  of  this  ravine  is  formed  by  the  great 
flank  of  Steeperton,  and  it  is  so  narrow  as  to  afford  little  more  than 
room  for  the  river.  Quite  close  to  the  bank  we  shall  observe  the  wall 
spoken  of  in  Ex.  16,  and  ere  we  have  proceeded  far  shall  meet  with  this 
as  it  comes  up  the  side  of  the  defile  at  right  angles  to  the  Taw. 

[The  wall  runs  westward  over  Middle  Hill,  crossing  the  springs  of 
the  East  Ockment,  and  reaching  the  Blackaven.  The  visitor  is  here 
near  the  pdint  where  he  turns  towards  the  N.  in  Ex.  16,  to  make  his 
way  from  the  wall  down  the  valley  of  the  Skit,  or  East  Ockment. 
Southward  of  Middle  Hill  is  Ockment  Hill  (Ex.  16,  and  C.R.),  which 
is  bounded  on  the  E.  by  the  Taw  ;  it  is  noticed  in  the  Cranmere  Routes, 
as  also  is  the  ridge  S.  of  Steeperton,  and  between  the  Taw  and  the 
Steeperton  Brook.  This  ridge,  a  part  of  which  is  known  as  Ockside 
Hill,  terminates  on  the  S.  at  the  foot  of  Hangingstone  Hill,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Cranmere.] 

On  leaving  the  wall  our  track  descends  to  the  Taw,  here  crossed 


EXCURSION  17.      STEEPERTON.      HOUND   TOR.  83 

by  the  clapper  known  as  Knock  Mine  Bridge  (T.  38).  This  is  29  feet 
long  and  fifteen  feet  wide,  and  there  are  four  openings,  the  two  central 
ones  being  wider  than  the  others.  The  bridge  was  greatly  damaged 
by  a  flood  in  1890.  On  the  side  of  the  steep  slope  above  it  are  the 
walls  of  a  small  building,  one  of  the  vestiges  of  the  "  knocke^d  "  Knock 
Mine. 

Crossing  the  stream  we  make  our  way  up  the  side  of  Steeperton 
Hill  to  the  tor,  distant  |  m.  from  the  bridge,  and  286  feet  above  it. 
The  rocks  do  not  rise  to  a  great  height,  and  are  therefore  not  particularly 
striking  in  themselves,  but  the  hill  should  certainly  be  ascended  for 
the  sake  of  the  fine  view  to  be  obtained  from  it.  Northward  we  look 
out  over  Taw  Plain,  with  the  Belstone  range  on  the  L,.  and  the  huge 
Cosdon  on  the  R.  E.  by  N.  is  Hound  Tor,  with  Kennon  Hill  beyond 
it,  the  former  being  about  f  m.  distant.  S.E.  by  S.  is  Wild  Tor  (i.  short ; 
rhymes  with  filled),  £  m.  off.  Southward  is  the  Wild  Tor  Ridge  and 
Ockside  Hill,  with  Hangingstone  Hill  beyond.  S.W.  is  Ockment  Hill ; 
and  W.,  and  ranging  round  towards  the  N.,  Willes,  Yes  Tor,  the  two 
Mil  Tors,  and  Row  Tor.  The  southernmost  mass  on  this  hill  is  some- 
times known  as  the  Eagle  Rock. 

Our  next  point  will  be  Hound  Tor,  but  instead  of  making  for  it 
direct  we  shall  bear  a  little  to  the  R.  If  we  shape  our  course  S.  of  E. 
we  shall  strike  the  track  running  out  from  South  Zeal  (T.  41)  shortly 
after  crossing  the  Steeperton  Brook,  and  turning  I,,  into  this  shall  soon 
find  ourselves  abreast  of  the  tor.  On  the  I/,  as  we  proceed  is  Metheral 
Hill,  a  tract  sloping  down  to  Taw  Marsh,  and  rising  in  a  slightly  rounded 
form  between  the  Steeperton  Brook  I,,  and  Small  Brook  R.  The  first- 
named  stream  runs  down  through  Metheral  Hole,  where  are  the  remains 
of  some  tin  workings  known  as  White  Pits.  This  name  is  found 
attached  to  several  places  or  objects  in  the  locality,  there  being  White 
Hill,  White  Moor,  White  Moor  Mead  (see  post  and  Cosdon  Section), 
and  White  Works  (Ex.  19).  The  line  marking  the  boundary  between 
the  forest  and  South  Tawton  Common  is  now  drawn  from  Small  Brook 
Foot,  on  which  stream  there  are  also  some  mining  remains,  up  through 
the  middle  of  Metheral  Hill  to  White  Moor  Stone,  but  as  already  stated 
it  is  probable  that  it  formerly  ran  further  to  the  east. 

Hound  Tor  is  a  small  low  pile  placed  on  a  narrow  ridge  between 
the  watersheds  of  the  Taw  and  the  Teign.  It  forms  one  of  the  forest 
bondmarks,  and  appears  in  the  Perambulation  of  1240  as  "  parva 
Hundetorre."  The  line  is  now  drawn  from  White  Moor  Stone,  less  than 
\  m.  N.E.,  to  the  tor,  and  thence  to  Wild  Tor  Well,  nearly  r  m.  to  the 
S.  (Ex.  19),  and  throughout  this  distance  defines  the  boundary  between 
the  Duchir  possessions  and  Throwleigh  Common.  From  Hound  Tor 
the  ground  slopes  southward  to  the  mire  above  Gallaven  Ford,  to  which 
point  a  track  comes  out  from  Clannaborough  Down  (T.  42),  passing 
between  Kennon  Hill,  the  summit  of  which  is  less  than  a  mile  distant 
E.  by  N.,  and  Raybarrow  Pool  (Ex.  18).  Beyond  the  mire,  and  to  the 
R.  of  it,  rise  the  rocks  of  Wild  Tor  (Ex.  19).  E.  by  S.  of  Hound  Tor, 
and  not  far  from  Gallaven  Ford,  is  a  plain  piece  of  ground  sometimes 
known  as  White  Moor  Mead.  N.  of  this  is  White  Moor,  marked  by  the 
tall  stone  bearing  that  name,  and  to  which  we  shall  now  make  our  way. 
[For  a  description  of  other  objects  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this 
tor  see  Exs.  18,  19,  and  R.  24,  25.] 

White  Moor  is  a  tract  extending  north-eastward  to  Raybarrow 


84  BELSTONE    AND    STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

Pool,  and  is  bounded  on  the  N.  by  Brook  Hill,  which  is  situated  to 
the  S.  of  White  Hill.  White  Moor  Stone  stands  on  a  flat,  broken 
piece  of  ground,  W.S.W.  of  the  southern  arm  of  the  pool,  and  about 
250  yards  from  it.  Though  now  serving  as  a  boundary  mark 
it  may  still  be  a  genuine  menhir,  while  it  is  also  not  unlikely 
that  it  originally  belonged  to  the  stone  circle  near  by.  It  is  a  large 
slab  about  5  feet  6  inches  high,  and  less  than  6  inches  thick  ;  its  width 
is  about  3  feet.  The  circle  is  N.  by  W.  of  it,  and  very  near  to  the  South 
Zeal  track  (T.  41).  This  now  consists  of  13  stones,  only  one  of  which 
was  erect  previous  to  about  1897,  in  which  year  the  monument  was 
"  restored."  It  is  evident  that  there  were  formerly  more  stones  than 
at  present,  and  as  we  can  hardly  suppose  that  they  would  be  carried 
far,  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  they  were  taken  away  to  serve  as 
bondstones,  of  which  there  are  several  in  the  locality.  The  stones  are 
between  three  and  four  feet  in  height. 

On  leaving  the  White  Moor  Circle  we  shall  cross  the  track  and 
strike  N.N.W.  to  a  group  of  ruined  huts  4  m.  distant,  passing  over 
Brook  Hill,  on  which  is  a  low  cairn.  Close  to  the  huts  we  shall  notice 
a  short  reave,  and  not  far  from  this,  in  a  northerly  direction,  is  a 
dilapidated  kist,  and  what  appears  to  be  a  menhir  lying  prone  on  the 
ground.  Below  this  group  the  hill,  which  sinks  down  to  Small  Brook 
is  covered  with  rocks,  between  which  whortleberry  plants  grow  in  great 
profusion.  One  cluster  of  these  granite  masses  near  the  stream  is  called 
the  Flock  o'  Sheep.  Passing  down  the  slope  in  a  north-westerly 
direction,  with  the  stream  on  the  L.,  we  shortly  come  upon  other 
remains.  These  consist  of  hut  circles  enclosed  within  three  pounds  of 
an  irregular  circular  shape,  the  walls,  or  rather  banks,  of  which  are  very 
low,  and  in  a  dilapidated  condition.  One  of  these  pounds  is  quite  near 
to  Small  Brook,  which  here  flows  through  a  hollow.  From  the  smallest 
of  them  a  short  reave  is  carried  towards  the  stream,  and  close  to  it  is 
another  running  from  the  stream  northward.  This  terminates  very 
near  to  the  Ivy  Tor  Water,  which  is  about  f  m.  distant,  and  is  men- 
tioned in  our  notice  of  the  track  leading  from  Ford  over  the  shoulder 
of  Cosdon  (T.  40). 

In  descending  the  side  of  the  hill  from  the  first  group  of  huts  we 
have  a  good  view  of  Taw  Plain,  and  of  the  distant  range  of  hills  capped 
by  Willes,  rising  beyond  the  Belstone  ridge.  From  this  part  of  the 
moor  these  hills  present  such  a  different  appearance  from  that  worn  by 
them  when  seen  from  other  points  as  to  render  them  at  first  not  readily 
recognizable.  The  sides  of  Taw  Plain  very  nearly  approach  each  other 
at  its  lower,  or  northern  end,  where  the  Taw  seems  to  have  scooped 
out  a  channel  for  itself.  In  the  days  when  this  channel  was  at  a  higher 
level  than  at  present  it  is  probable  that  the  plain  formed  the  bed  of  a 
shallow  lake,  into  which  the  foot  of  Steeperton  projected.  This  idea 
will  certainly  be  suggested  to  the  visitor  who  looks  upon  it  from  the 
point  we  have  now  reached,  or  when  he  views  it  from  near  Birchy 
Lake.  It  is  about  1,160  feet  above  sea-level. 

Below  the  hut  circles  Small  Brook  runs  through  Taw  Marsh  to 
the  Taw,  the  confluence  being  known  as  Small  Brook  Foot.  The 
tributary  may  be  followed  to  the  larger  stream,  there  being  good  hard 
ground  upon  its  banks  ;  or  we  may  strike  into  the  green  track  that  we 
shall  s  e  running  towards  the  N.  from  a  ford  over  the  brook  (T.  40). 
If  we  choose  the  former  we  shall  pass  between  the  two  patches  of  miry 


COSDON    BEACON.  85 

ground  of  which  Taw  Marsh  consists,  and  on  reaching  the  Taw  shall 
cross  it  at  the  first  place  where  an  opportunity  offers,  or  follow  the 
river  down  to  Ducky  Pool,  just  below  which  it  makes  an  abrupt  bend 
where  there  are  two  fords.  Here  it  is  narrow  as  well  as  shallow,  and 
can  generally  be  crossed  without  difficulty.  If  we  follow  the  track  it 
will  lead  us  for  a  short  distance  over  a  smooth,  level  piece  of  ground, 
with  White  Hill  on  the  R.  Then  we  leave  it  and  strike  towards  the 
river,  our  mark  being  Higher  Tor,  on  the  ridge  beyond.  This  will 
bring  us  to  the  fords  at  the  bend. 

[Should  the  Taw  be  in  flood  it  will,  of  course,  be  necessary  for  the 
visitor  to  return  by  way  of  Knock  Mine  Bridge.] 

On  crossing  the  river  we  strike  a  rough  track  (T.  39),  which  we 
shall  follow  past  the  Irishman's  Wall,  and  through  a  wilderness  of 
stones,  to  Birchy  Lake.  It  was  among  these  masses  of  granite  that 
the  cottage  of  the  old  woman  with  the  evil  eye  formerly  stood,  and 
where  Luke  Duggins  shot  the  black  cat,  Pluto.  The  visitor  will  look 
in  vain  for  traces  of  it  now,  for  it  was  destroyed  by  the  spell  of  a  good 
pixy  at  the  very  moment  the  old  woman  was  about  to  fly  away  on  a 
broomstick.  Birchy  Lake  consists  of  a  farmhouse,  and  one  or  two 
other  dwellings.  A  good  road  leads  to  Belstone,  £  m.  distant,  a  fine 
view  of  the  Cleave  being  obtained  on  the  way. 


Cosdon. 

The  huge  hill  of  Cosdon  spreads  itself  over  the  greater  part  of  South 
Tawton  common.  Its  local  name  is  Cosson,  for  which  there  is  a  cer- 
tain degree  of  authority,  as  we  find  that  both  names  were  in  use  in 
1609,  but  none  whatever  for  Cawsand,  which  form  appears  on  the 
Ordnance  Map  published  in  1888.  Cosson  is,  of  course,  merely  the 
Devonshire  way  of  pronouncing  the  true  name,  the  earliest  mention 
of  which  is  in  the  Perambulation  of  1240,  where  it  is  given  as  Cossdonne. 
Until  the  nineteenth  century  was  well  advanced  this  hill  was  thought 
to  be  the  highest  on  Dartmoor,  but  there  are  several  of  much  greater 
elevation  ;  its  height  is  1,799  feet,  or  240  feet  less  than  that  of  Willes. 
On  the  N.  the  hill  is  bounded  by  Belstone  Cleave,  Skaigh  Wood,  and 
the  plantation  above  Ford  ;  on  the  E.  by  the  enclosures  running  S. 
from  that  plantation  nearly  to  the  head  of  Cheriton  Combe  ;  on  the 
S.  by  Raybarrow  Pool  and  White  Hill ;  and  on  the  W.  by  the  northern 
part  of  Taw  Plain. 

The  summit  of  this  hill  is  crowned  with  a  cairn  90  yards  in  circum- 
ference, known  as  Cosdon,  or  Cosson,  Beacon  ;  indeed,  this  name 
is  often  applied  by  the  natives  to  the  whole  hill  About  1 50  yards 
N.E.  of  this  cairn  are  the  remains  of  what  appears  to  have  been  two 
kistvaens  encircled  by  a  ring  of  slabs  over  50  feet  in  diameter.  A 
short  distance  to  the  N.E.  are  the  scant  vestiges  of  a  cairn,  and  to  the 
N. W.  of  this  the  remaina  of  another,  each  of  them  being  about  60  feet 
in  diameter.  Around  the  latter  are  some  slabs  leaning  outwards,  in 
the  manner  often  noticed  where  the  stone  circle  surrounds  a  tumulus. 
Before  these  remains  were  despoiled  they  must  have  formed  a  striking 
group.  But  the  wall  builder  on  Dartmoor  is,  or  was,  generally  a 
vandal;  a  cairn  would  mean  nothing  more  to  him  than  a  heap  of 
material,  and  a  kistvaen,  if  its  sides  were  long,  a  couple  of  gate-posts. 


86  BELSTONE   AND   STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

The  antiquities  on  the  summit  of  Cosdon  are  not  by  any  means 
the  only  ones  on  that  hill  that  have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  spoliator. 
We  remember  when  there  were  many  hut  circles  on  its  eastern  side, 
between  the  peat  road  (T.  41)  and  the  enclosures  opposite  West  Week, 
but  only  the  vestiges  of  a  few  are  to  be  found  there  now,  and  it  is  not 
so  many  years  since  that  the  monument  formerly  known  in  the  locality 
as  Eight  Rocks  disappeared.  This  consisted  of  eight  upright  stones, 
forming  part  of  what  had  once  been  a  fine  circle  or  row.  From  a 
description  given  to  me  many  years  ago  at  Whiddon  Down  I  judge  it 
to  have  been  the  latter.  The  stones  stood  at  the  northern  end  of 
the  hill,  on  the  slope  above  Ford.  Children  in  the  neighbourhood 
used  to  be  told  that  when  the  Eight  Rocks  heard  South  Tawton  bells 
they  would  be  seen  to  dance. 

[Another  stone  row,  which  is  situated  on  a  little  plateau  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  hill,  and  not  very  far  from  the  enclosures,  is  known 
as  the  Cemetery,  and  this  we  have  mentioned  in  our  description  of 
the  track  from  South  Zeal  and  Prospect  Place  to  the  forest  (T.  41). 
It  consists  of  three  parallel  rows  of  stones,  running  from  two  kist- 
vaens,  and  was  "restored"  in  1897.  The  kists  are  surrounded  by  a 
circle  of  low  stones  about  17  feet  in  diameter,  and  are  placed  side  by 
side.  One  of  them  is  fairly  intact,  but  of  the  other  only  one  side  stone 
and  one  end  stone  remain,  the  latter  serving  also  as  an  end  stone  to 
the  more  complete  kist.  Running  almost  due  E.  from  this  little  circle 
is  the  triple  row,  which  is  about  8  feet  in  width  at  its  widest  part,  and 
here  some  of  the  stones  composing  it  are  from  3  to  4  feet  in  height. 
For  a  distance  of  about  85  paces  the  row  is  well  defined  ;  it  then 
becomes  rather  fainter,  and  extends  for  another  70  paces  to  the  track 
referred  to.  About  120  paces  N.  of  this  monument,  which  presents  a 
rather  striking  appearance,  is  a  reave  running  like  the  row  E.  and  W. 
It  is  very  much  overgrown  in  places,  but  it  can  be  seen  that  some 
large  stones  were  used  in  forming  it.  This  group  of  antiquities  is 
situated  N.  of  the  upper  end  of  Cheriton  Combe,  looking  down  which 
the  tower  of  Throwleigh  Church  can  be  seen  S.E.  by  E.] 

On  the  western  slope  of  this  great  hill,  due  W.  of  the  beacon  cairn, 
and  rather  over  a  furlong  from  it,  is  a  group  of  hut  circles,  some  being 
of  rather  large  size  and  others  small.  A  part  of  this  group  stands 
within  a  pound  about  350  paces  in  circumference,  the  wall  of  which 
is  irregularly  built  of  loose  stones,  and  is  not  more  than  about  3  feet 
in  height.  The  whole  is  much  overgrown  with  heather.  Below  this, 
towards  the  W.,  is  a  dilapidated  cairn,  and  the  vestiges  of  a  reave,  and 
running  southward  from  the  head  of  the  Ivy  Tor  Water  is  the  reave 
mentioned  in  Ex.  17. 

In  our  notice  of  the  bounds  of  Dartmoor  forest  we  have  stated 
that  Cosdon  was  the  starting-point  of  the  perambulators  who  were 
appointed  in  1 240  to  view  them,  but  from  what  part  of  the  hill  they  set 
out  cannot  now  be  stated  with  any  certainty.  If  the  forest  line  then 
ran  across  Taw  Plain,  as  it  is  now  supposed  to  do,  Cosdon  would  be 
altogether  outside  it,  and  there  would  have  been  no  reason  for  mention- 
ing it,  unless  it  was  that  the  point  from  which  the  perambulators  set 
out  was  the  foot  of  the  hill,  supposing  what  we  now  call  White  Hill 
to  have  been  looked  upon  as  one  with  Cosdon  itself.  But  the  return 
made  under  the  commission  (only  copies  of  which,  however,  exist), 
shows  the  Perambulation  to  have  begun  at  Hoga  de  Cosdonne,  or 


VIEW   FROM   COSDON.  87 

Cosdon  Hill,  and  as  when  other  hills  are  named  in  the  return  it  is  clear 
that  the  summit  of  them  is  meant,  it  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  such  was  intended  in  the  case  of  the  one  in  question,  besides 
which  the  name  would  also  lead  us  to  that  conclusion,  hoga  meaning 
height.*  But  whether  the  bounds  viewed  in  1240  included  much  or 
little  of  Cosdon  within  the  royal  forest,  it  appears  certain  that  the 
crown  had  possessed  rights  over  that  part  of  the  moor,  and  probably 
contended  for  them  then,  a  claim  which  we  believe  has  not  been  aban- 
doned by  the  Duchy.  South  Tawton  was  ancient  demesne,  and  King 
John,  when  Earl  of  Moretain,  held  the  manor  of  Richard  I.  It  after- 
wards came  into  the  possession  of  Roger  de  Toeny,  who  apparently 
paid  twenty  shillings  a  year  for  the  common,  which  is  probably  what 
is  referred  to  in  certain  manorial  records  as  Tawland. 

The  view  from  Cosdon  is  of  great  extent  and  variety.  On  one 
hand  the  solitary  moor,  with  its  hills  rising  bleak  and  bare  ;  on  the 
other  a  vast  panorama  of  wood  and  field  happily  intermingled.  All 
the  prominent  heights  to  which  our  rambles  from  Okehampton  and 
Belstone  have  taken  us  are  in  sight.  Away  to  the  S.E.  by  S.  is  the 
ridge  of  Hameldon,  and  to  the  I,,  of  it,  and  further  off,  the  twin  masses 
of  Hey  Tor  (Ex.  25).  Between  the  openings  in  the  hills,  in  a  direction 
almost  due  S.,  a  distant  eminence  rises  against  the  sky.  On  this, 
but  too  far  removed  from  us  to  be  visible,  is  the  cairn  known  as  Western 
Whitaburrow,  which  marks  the  extreme  southern  point  of  the  forest, 
the  line  being  there  drawn  between  it  and  Brent  Moor  (Ex.  30).  Its 
distance  from  the  summit  of  Cosdon  is  16  m.,  as  measured  on  the  map. 
Nearly  the  whole  of  North  Devon  is  revealed,  and  very  much  of  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county.  Northward  is  the  stretch  of  cultivated 
country  that  extends  to  the  foot  of  the  Exmoor  hills,  which  are  seen 
bounding  the  view  in  that  direction.  Hardly  a  season  passes  but 
some  of  the  red  deer  from  that  district  make  their  way  across  this  to 
Dartmoor,  a  journey  of  about  30  miles.  When  the  weather  is  favour- 
able the  Bristol  Channel  off  Barnstaple  Bay  is  clearly  discernible,  and 
towards  the  S.E.  the  English  Channel  beyond  the  mouth  of  the  Teign. 

Few  directions  for  ascending  Cosdon  Hill  are  necessary,  the  ground 
being  everywhere  easily  passable,  but  it  may  perhaps  be  well  to  briefly 
indicate  the  best  routes. 

(A).  From  Belstone  the  first  point  will  be  Birchy  Lake  (Ex.  17). 
a  short  distance  above  which,  where  the  enclosures  on  the  "L,.  terminate, 
the  Taw  will  be  crossed  by  the  natural  stepping-stones  in  its  channel, 
a  task  which,  unless  the  stream  be  in  flood,  will  present  no  difficulty. 
The  summit  of  the  hill  is  now  about  i  m.  distant  in  a  direction 
S.E.  by  E.  About  midway  up  the  track  to  Small  Brook  is  crossed 
(T.  40),  and  also  the  Ivy  Tor  Water,  near  which  the  ground  is  some- 
times rather  marshy,  but  not  sufficiently  so  to  prove  an  obstacle.  Be- 
tween this  little  brook  and  the  beacon  cairn  on  the  summit  the  hut  circles 
referred  to  as  being  on  the  western  slope  of  the  hill  will  be  passed. 
(If,  on  reaching  the  R.  bank  of  the  Taw,  the  rambler  follows  it  up  for 

*  The  name  appears  in  many  parts  of  the  country  ;  as  in  Morthoe 
and  Trentishoe,  in  the  North  of  Devon  ;  in  Hawley's  Hoe,  the  residence 
of  a  former  merchant  of  Dartmouth  ;  in  Plymouth  Hoe  ;  in  Humbershoe 
and  Tatternhoe,  in  Bedfordshire  ;  and  in  Wivenhoe,  in  Essex.  Alster 
Hohe  also  occurs  near  Hamburg. 


BELSTONE    AND    STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

a  short  distance  instead  of  immediately  ascending  the  hill,  he  will 
come  upon  the  ruins  of  a  small  building,  consisting  of  walls  forming 
three  sides  of  a  square,  and  of  the  kind  seen  in  connection  with  the 
tinners'  workings.  But  many  years  ago  we  found  a  story  current  in 
the  locality  to  the  effect  that  this  house  was  one  of  those  in  which  the 
Irish  people  who  settled  in  this  part  of  the  moor  some  years  ago  used 
to  live,  and  it  was  then  referred  to  as  the  Irishmen's  House.  Pre- 
sumably these  were  employed  in  building  the  wall  which  has  been 
described  in  Ex.  16,  and  according  to  the  account  we  gathered  they 
were  driven  away  by  the  natives.  Prom  this  ruin  the  course  to  the 
summit  of  the  hill  will  be  a  trifle  more  eastward  than  the  former  one). 

(B).  From  Sticklepath  the  hill  may  be  reached  by  the  path 
running  up  through  the  wood.  Another  way  is  by  the  track  from 
Ford  to  Small  Brook  (T.  40).  Soon  after  gaining  the  common 
the  branch  of  this  path  ascending  the  hill  L.  will  be  reached,  and  into 
this  the  visitor  must  turn.  It  does  not  go  quite  to  the  summit  of 
Cosdon,  but  very  near  to  it.  Another  way  is  by  leaving  this  track  where 
it  enters  on  the  common,  and  striking  a  little  W.  of  S.  to  a  small  clatter 
known  as  Rabbits'  Holt.  Here  is  a  stone  about  6  feet  in  height,  one 
of  a  line  erected  in  1885,  to  mark  the  boundary  of  certain  mineral 
rights,  and  also  that  between  what  was  anciently  known  as  the  manor 
of  Zeal  Toeny  and  the  land  over  which  the  Duchy  claims  jurisdiction. 
There  have  been  frequent  disputes  between  the  commoners  of  South 
Tawton  parish  and  the  Duchy.  It  is  claimed  by  the  former  that  they 
have  a  right  to  enclose,  and,  as  will  be  seen,  they  have  fenced  in  a  good 
part  otthe  side  of  the  hill  opposite  Ramsleigh  and  West  Week.  The 
late  Bailiff  of  Dartmoor,  the  representative  of  the  Duchy  authorities, 
sought  to  prevent  this,  and  once  attempted  to  throw  down  some  walls 
the  commoners  had  erected.  But  the  latter  were  not  disposed  to  allow 
their  rights  to  be  interfered  with,  and  mustering  in  force  repelled  the 
invaders.  On  one  face  of  the  stone  in  question  are  the  letters  S  Z, 
with  the  figure  2  beneath  them,  and  on  the  other  the  letters  D  C,  and 
a  similar  figure.  These  stand  for  South  Zeal  and  Duchy  of  Cornwall 
respectively,  the  figure  being  merely  the  number  of  the  stone.  Another 
of  the  stones  may  be  seen  near  the  corner  of  Skaigh,  to  the  N.W.  ;  and 
a  third  hard  by  the  enclosures  to  the  S.E.  South  Tawton  Church  is 
about  i  J  m.  from  the  clatter  in  a  north-easterly  direction.  The  summit 
of  Cosdon  is  rather  over  4  m.  distant. 

(C).  From  South  Zeal  the  lane  leading  to  the  road  at  Prospect 
Place,  near  Ramsleigh  Mine,  may  be  followed.  The  Place  is  a  row  of 
cottages  erected  in  1845,  as  a  tablet  in  the  wall  shows.  Here  the  road 
is  crossed,  and  the  visitor  will  then  pass  up  the  narrow  way  to  the 
common,  as  described  in  our  notice  of  the  track  to  the  Steeperton 
Brook  (T.  41).  When  the  common  is  reached  he  will  leave  the  track 
and  climb  the  hill  R.  ;  on  the  way  he  will  see  the  boundary  stone  at 
Rabbits'  Holt  which  we  have  just  noticed. 

(D).  From  Clannaborough  Down  the  route  will  be  as  in  Ex.  18. 
On  reaching  the  Cemetery  the  steep  side  of  Cosdon,  which  rises  abruptly 
from  the  plateau  on  which  that  monument  is  situated,  must  be  scaled. 
The  course  will  be  nearly  due  W.,  and  the  distance  from  the  rows  to 
the  beacon  cairn  on  the  summit  about  i  rn. 

(E).  From  Ensworthy  the  course  will  be  about  N.W.  Cross 
Forder  Brook,  and  then  make  up  over  Shilstone  Hill  to  the  Blackaton 


EXCURSION  18.      RAYBARROW   POOL.  89 

Brook,  which  will  be  struck  where  the  Gallaven  track  (T.  42)  runs 
beside  it.  Keep  Cheriton  Combe  on  the  R.,  and  in  about  ^  m.  the  peat 
road  (T.  41)  will  be  reached.  The  summit  of  the  hill  is  about  \  m. 
beyond  this. 

(F).  From  White  Moor  Circle  the  peat  road  (T.  41)  must  be 
followed  northward  to  the  edge  of  Raybarrow  Pool  (Ex.  18),  when  the 
visitor  will  strike  over  the  common  I/.,  his  course  being  due  N.  Cosdon 
Beacon  is  less  than  300  feet  above  this  point,  and  about  f  m.  from  it. 

(G).  From  the  ford  at  Small  Brook  the  summit  bears  a  little 
E.  of  N.E.,  and  is  some  550  feet  above  it.  The  way  lies  over  White 
Hill,  the  distance  being  about  i  m.  The  ground  is  good,  and  the 
visitor  will  find  no  difficulty  in  reaching  the  beacon. 


Ex.  1 8. — Steeperton  Track,  Raybarrow  Pool,  White  Moor  Circle, 
Blackaton  Brook,  Cheriton  Combe,  about  9  m.  (EXTENSION  to  Kennon 
Hill,  White.  Moor  Marsh,  Shilsione  Tor,  and  Clannaborough  Down, 
about  ii  m.  further). 

We  leave  Sticldepath  by  the  eastern  road,  and  after  crossing  the 
bridge  over  the  Taw,  of  which  there  is  mention  in  the  Lydford  Court 
Rolls  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  shall  bear  R.  to  Prospect  Place.  Here 
we  turn  R.  into  the  Steeperton  track,  or  Peat  Road  (T.  41),  which  we 
shall  not  desert  until  we  reach  the  confines  of  the  forest,  3  m.  distant. 
On  passing  the  Cemetery  (Cosdon  Section)  we  look  down  upon  Cheriton 
Combe  I/.,  where  is  some  miry  ground,  in  which  a  little  feeder 
of  the  Blackaton  Brook  takes  its  rise.  Skirting  the  head  of  this  our 
track,  which  as  before  observed  is  one  of  the  best  of  similar  paths  on 
the  moor,  gradually  ascends  to  Raybarrow  Pool,  f-  m.  further  on,  along 
the  western  edge  of  which  it  is  carried.  The  so-called  pool  is  really 
an  extensive  mire,  one  of  the  worst  in  the  moorland  region,  and  lies 
between  the  foot  of  the  southern  slope  of  Cosdon  and  that  part  of 
Throwleigh  Common  known  as  Kennon  Hill.  It  is  considerably  over 
•£  m.  in  length  from  N.  to  S.,  but  not  quite  J  m.  in  breadth,  except 
in  one  place.  It  is  very  probable  that  this  swampy  flat  once  merited 
its  name,  and  that  it  has  been  artificially  drained  by  deepening  the 
channel  of  the  Blackaton  Brook,  which  flows  from  it  on  the  east.  No 
stream  runs  into  the  mire,  but  it  receives  the  drainage  of  a  large  area 
of  moorland,  and  in  very  rainy  seasons  a  little  water  gathers  in  one 
part  of  it.  Its  elevation  is  about  1,500  feet.  It  was  into  Raybarrow 
Pool  that  Sampson  Bow,  the  moorman,  drove  the  band  of  sheep- 
stealers  who  once  made  an  old  building  called  Cosdon  House  their 
haunt.  Soon  after  passing  the  mire  we  come  in  sight  of  White  Moor 
Circle  on  the  L. 

(The  route  to  Belstone  from  this  circle  is  described  in  Ex.  17). 

Our  way  lies  past  the  circle  to  White  Moor  Stone,  which  is  about 
200  yards  S.E.  by  E.  of  it  (Ex.  17),  and  thence  to  a  bondstone  %  m. 
nearly  due  E.  This  stands  close  beside  the  track  leading  from  Clanna- 
borough Down  to  Gallaven  (T.  42).  Here  we  turn  northward,  and 
follow  the  path  along  the  eastern  edge  of  Raybarrow  Mire  to  the  point 
where  Blackaton  Brook  issues  from  it,  Kennon  Hill  being  on  our  R> 
By  crossing  the  little  stream  just  below  its  head,  and  following  the 


QO  BELSTONE   AND   STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

path  to  another  crossing-place,  we  shall  avoid  some  miry  ground,  but 
on  regaining  the  R.  bank  the  former  will  become  our  sole  companion. 
It  will  lead  us  past  the  point  where  the  Cheriton  Combe  Water  falls 
into  it,  and  through  Blackaton  Hole,  a  romantic  hollow,  at  the  lower 
end  of  which  is  a  small  fording-place  with  a  footpath  climbing  the 
steep  I,,  bank.  A  little  way  down  stream  is  the  reach  known  as  Shilley 
Pool,  below  which  water  is  taken  from  the  brook  for  use  at  Ramsleigh 
Mine. 

(This  mine  is  worked  for  copper.  Among  others  in  the  district 
we  are  noticing  may  be  mentioned  Ivy  Tor  Mine,  or  Belstone  Consols, 
Copper  Hill  Mine,  and  Halstock  Mine). 

[Extension  from  White  Moor  Stone  over  Kennon  Hill.  This  will 
not  greatly  add  to  the  length  of  our  excursion.  The  first  point  will  be 
the  bondmark  by  the  side  of  the  Gallaven  Track  (T.  42),  noticed  above, 
whence  we  soon  reach  tht  summit  of  Kennon  Hill  (1,573  feet),  ^  m. 
E.S.E.  of  the  monolith.  From  this  hill  we  have  a  good  view  of  the 
commons  that  slope  down  to  the  North  Teign,  and  of  some  of  the 
principal  points  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  forest.  Beyond  the 
Teign,  S.S.E.,  is  seen  Shovel  Down  (Ex.  20),  with  the  enclosures  and 
trees  of  Batworthy  to  the  L.  of  it,  and  further  away  the  commons 
rising  towards  that  part  of  tht  moor  over  which  runs  the  road  between 
Moorgate  (Ex.  21)  and  the  Warren  House  Inn  (Ex.  45).  Two  miles 
away  to  the  S.S.W.  is  Watern  Tor  (Ex.  19),  and  i£  m.  S.W.  Wild  Tor 
(Ex.  19),  backed  by  the  high  land  that  stretches  away  to  the  region  of 
Cranmere.  W.S.W.  is  Steeperton  (Ex.  17),  and  due  W.,  and  4  m. 
distant,  High  Willes  (Ex.  15).  Kennon  Hill  has  a  smooth  grassy 
surface,  with  some  scattered  stones  about  its  higher  part.  On  its 
western  side  a  few  remains  of  an  older  day  are  met  with,  among  them 
being  the  scanty  vestiges  of  huts  of  the  kind  usually  regarded  a» 
shepherds',  or  herdsmen's,  shelters.  On  this  side  also  are  some  mining 
gerts,  one  of  which  is  named  Proctor  Gully,  and  another  London 
Pit.  The  hill  is  bounded  on  the  S.  by  Ruelake  Pit  and  Rival  Tor 
(Ex.  19)  ;  on  the  W.  by  White  Moor  and  Raybarrow  Pool ;  on  the  N. 
by  Blackaton  Brook  and  Shilstone  Hill ;  and  on  the  E.  by  White  Moor 
Bottom,  in  which  is  situated  White  Moor  Marsh,  the  source  of  the 
Forder  Brook.  From  the  summit  of  Kennon  the  head  of  this  marsh 
is  -J-  m.  distant,  and  if  wt  follow  a  S.E.  by  E.  course  we  shall  reach  it 
where  a  small  hollow  is  formed  in  the  steep  side  of  the  shallow  valley. 
This  grassy  dell  was  formerly  a  haunt  of  the  elves  of  the  moor,  and  is 
still  called  the  Pixies'  Parlour. 

Crossing  the  head  of  White  Moor  Marsh  we  find  ourselves  at  the 
foot  of  Buttern  Hill,  which  forms  the  eastern  side  of  the  little  valley, 
and  which  is  noticed  in  our  excursions  from  Chagford  (Ex.  19),  together 
with  Creber  Pound  and  other  objects  of  interest  in  this  locality.  Ex- 
tending northward  from  this  hill  to  Blackaton  Brook  are  Ensworthy 
Hill,  forming,  like  Buttern,  a  part  of  the  common  lands  of  Gidleigh, 
Shilstone  Hi1!,  and  Clannaborough  Down,  the  latter  two  belonging  to 
Throwleigh  Common.  We  pass  down  the  hollow,  with  the  marsh 
close  on  our  I,.,  and  near  its  lower  end  shall  observe  the  ruins  of  a 
mining  hut  of  the  usual  rectangular  form,  and  consisting  cf  a  central 
chamber  with  a  smaller  one  en  each  side.  On  the  slope  are  also  the 
remains  of  a  circle,  which  was  apparently  over  80  feet  in  diameter 


EXCURSION  18.      SHILSTONE   TOR.  91 

when  in  a  complete  state.  Only  six  of  the  stones  are  now  standing, 
but  the  monument  seems  to  have  originally  consisted  of  more  than 
thirty. 

Skirting  Ensworthy  Hill  we  shall  cross  the  little  Forder  Brook 
where  it  bends  R.,  and  entering  once  more  upon  Throwleigh  Common, 
shall  direct  our  steps  to  Shilstone  Tor,  on  the  further  side  of  a  tiny 
feeder  that  comes  down  north-westward  through  Shilstone  Combe. 
Shilstone  Tor  stands  close  to  the  road  leading  from  Payne's  Bridge  to 
Creber  Pound  and  Berry  Down.  The  pile,  never  a  very  large  one, 
has  unfortunately  been  rendered  almost  insignificant  by  the  quarry- 
man.  There  are  two  excavations  in  it  from  which  stone  has  been 
taken,  and  many  of  the  blocks  composing  it  also  show  the  marks  of 
the  bars  used  in  splitting  them.  But  this  destruction  by  the  road- 
mender  is  not  all ;  it  has  been  sought  to  rob  the  tor  of  its  name  also. 
It  is  rather  amusing  to  read  that  a  late  antiquary  "  identified  "  this 
pile  with  the  Hound  Tor  (Ex.  17)  of  the  perambulators,  and  to  note 
that  his  fanciful  idea  has  been  accepted  by  another  writer  in  sketching 
the  bounds  of  the  forest.  There  is  not  the  slightest  proof  that  this  tor 
ever  bore  any  other  name  than  that  by  which  it  is  now  known,  or  that 
the  perambulators  ever  came  within  two  miles  of  it.  But  the  "  identi- 
fication "  was  necessary  in  order  to  support  a  view  that  the  forest  was 
much  larger  in  1240  than  it  is  at  present.  It  was  desired  to  show 
that  the  perambulators  drew  their  line  from  Cosdon  to  this  point,  but 
as  they  have  distinctly  recorded  that  they  drew  it  to  Hound  Tor,  this 
could  only  be  done  by  giving  the  name  of  the  latter  to  Shilstone  Tor. 
The  process  is  a  beautifully  simple  one,  and  if  carried  out  on  a  generous 
scale  it  would  be  easy  to  show  that  every  tor  on  Dartmoor  was  once 
within  the  forest.  It  has  also  been  applied  in  another  place,  as  we  shall 
see  later  on,  where  a  new  name  has  been  given  to  a  stream  in  order  to 
bring  it  in  as  a  boundary  (Ex.  21). 

Near  Shilstone  Tor  is  the  entrance  to  the  farm  of  the  same  name, 
noticed  in  S.  Ex.  46. 

It  is  not  only  the  destruction  of  natural  objects  that  has  taken 
place  on  this  common.  The  remains  of  erections  of  an  old-time  people 
have  also  suffered  at  the  hands  of  roadmen  and  wall  builders,  among 
others  one  which  appears  to  have  been  an  enclosure  very  similar  to 
that  existing  near  Sharp  Tor  above  East  Combe  on  the  Dart  (Ex.  41), 
although  the  wall  was  not  quite  of  the  s:j.me  character.  The  moormen, 
it  is  said,  used  to  refer  to  it  as  a  pound,  which  name,  indeed,  they  give 
to  all  ancient  enclosures  of  larger  size  than  the  hut  circles,  and  by 
which  they  mean  a  place  where  rattle  could  be  driven  for  shelter  and 
protection.  No  trace  of  this  now  exists,  but  vestiges  of  other  remains 
are  numerous  on  every  part  of  Shilston  Hill  and  Clannaborough  Down. 
These  we  shall  meet  with  as  we  make  our  way  across  the  commons  in 
a  north-westerly  direction  from  the  tor.  They  consist  chiefly  of  a 
number  of  reaves  and  hut  circles,  some  of  the  latter  being  of  large  size, 
but  they  are  so  much  overgrown  with  short  furze  and  heather,  as  to 
be  undiscernible  until  the  rambler  comes  close  upon  them.  In  one 
plate  two  of  the  reaves  run  parallel  for  a  considerable  distance,  the 
space  between  them  being  about  the  width  of  an  ordinary  roadway. 
Still  further  N.W.  there  are  others,  while  hut  circles  are  also  numerous 
on  the  down  due  N.  of  the  tor 

When  we  have  proceeded  about  \  m.  we  shall  cross  the  Gallaven 


92  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

Track  (T.  42),  as  it  runs  up  over  Clannaborough  Down,  and  a  short 
distance  beyond  this  is  Blackaton  Brook.  We  pass  onward  to  the 
little  crossing- place  over  the  stream  above  Shilley  Pool.] 

On  crossing  Blackaton  Brook  we  once  more  find  ourselves  on 
South  Tawton  Common,  with  Cheriton  Combe  on  the  L.  Our  course 
will  now  be  about  N.N.W.  from  the  fording-place.  Not  very  far  from 
the  brook,  and  when  a  little  S.  of  W.  of  East  Week  (the  group  of 
thatched  cottages  seen  across  the  shallow  valley),  we  shall  notice  two 
stones,  their  position  seeming  to  indicate  that  they  once  formed  part  of 
a  large  circle,  though  this  is  not  free  from  doubt.  On  the  slope  of  the 
hill  R.,  are  a  number  of  small  modern  farm  enclosures,  near  which  are 
the  remains  of  a  few  hut  circles.  There  were  formerly  many  more  of 
these,  but  they  have  been  destroyed  by  the  builders  of  the  walls.  About 
£  m.  from  Blackaton  Brook  we  shall  strike  the  Steeperton  Track  (T.  41 ), 
near  the  Cemetery,  which  we  shall  follow  northward,  and  where  it  forks 
turn  down  the  hill  R.  to  Prospect  Place,  thence  returning  to  Stickle- 
path  by  the  road  by  which  we  set  out. 

[An  alternative  route  from  Shilstone  Tor,  or  from  Shilley  Pool, 
is  by  way  of  Payne's  Bridge.  In  the  former  case  the  road  near  the  tor 
is  followed  northward  to  the  bridge,  which  is  i  m.  distant  ;  in  the 
latter  Blackaton  Brook  is  traced  downward  for  rather  less  than  4  m. 
The  distance  from  the  bridge  to  Prospect  Place  is  i£  m.  See  S.  Ex.  44 
and  45.] 


Shorter  Excursions. 

(FROM  OKEHAMPTON). 

S.  Ex.  34. — Sourton  Down  and  Prewley  Moor,  9  m.  Leaving  the 
town  by  way  of  the  West  Bridge  the  visitor  will  follow  the  Tavistock 
road  (passing  the  branch  L.  at  2^  m.  which  leads  to  Meldon)  to  a  point 
on  what  was  formerly  a  part  of  Sourton  Down.  Here  on  the  R., 
and  3-J-  m.  from  the  town,  where  the  Hatherleigh  road  diverges,  is  a 
guide-stone,  and  a  little  further  on,  but  on  the  L.,  a  fine  granite  cross 
over  8  feet  in  height.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XI.]  It  will  be  noticed  that 
the  arms  are  very  short,  and  this,  and  the  fact  that  it  bears  a  Romano- 
British  inscription,  will  probably  justify  us  in  supposing  that  it  was 
fashioned  out  of  a  menhir.  The  latter,  which  is  cut  lengthwise  on 
the  shaft,  is  apparently  to  the  memory  of  Princip.  The  cross  has 
also  been  made  to  serve  a  similar  purpose  to  that  of  the  guide-stone, 
letters  indicating  the  direction  of  Hatherleigh,  Okehampton,  Tavistock, 
and  I/aunceston,  being  cut  upon  it  Proceeding  southward  along  the 
road,  past  the  spot  where  Jockey  Down's  House  formerly  stood,  the 
rambler  soon  reaches  Prewley  Moor  (T.  32,  Ex.  13),  and  |-  m.  from  the 
cross  will  pass  under  the  railway,  and  make  his  way  up  the  common. 
He  will  not,  however,  follow  the  track  running  out  to  Kitty  Tor 
(T.  32),  but  will  keep  rather  near  to  the  enclosures  on  the  L.  Soon 
after  Prewley  farmhouse  is  passed,  which  is  situated  on  the  verge  of 
the  common  on  that  side,  a  track  will  be  struck  near  where  it  leaves 


SHORTER    EXCURSIONS   FROM   OKEHAMPTON.  93 

the  moor.  This  is  the  King  Way  (T.  26),  which  comes  down  to  this 
point  from  Iron  Gates  (Ex.  13).  Turning  into  this  ancient  path  the 
rambler  will  follow  it  down  the  hill  northward  past  Higher  Bowden 
to  Meldon,  which  is  reached  just  after  passing  under  the  railway. 
(The  road  running  R.  leads  to  Meldon  Down,  Ex.  14).  f-  m.  beyond 
the  hamlet  the  rambler  will  reach  the  road  by  which  he  left  Oke- 
hampton,  at  a  point  2.\  m.  from  the  town. 

S.  Ex.  35. — Meldon  Gorge.  A,  6\  m.  ;  B,  8  m.  ;  C,  including  the 
Island  of  Rocks,  10  m.  By  the  Tavistock  road  as  in  the  preceding 
excursion  for  2  j  m.  ;  then  bear  up  the  hill  I,,  to  Meldon.  (A)  Down 
the  path,  eastward,  to  Burrow  Cleave  (Ex.  14)  ;  thence  by  the  track 
under  the  viaduct  (T.  33),  and  through  Meldon  Quarry,  to  Higher 
Bowden  Steps,  £  m.,  the  Ockment  being  I,,  and  Meldon  Down  R. 
Cross  the  river  at  the  steps,  and  turn  L.,  following  the  track  (T.  33) 
under  the  viaduct  to  Okehampton  Park.  Thence  to  the  town  by  the 
path,  the  route  being  the  reverse  of  that  described  at  the  beginning 
of  Ex.  14.  (B)  From  the  stepping-stones  down  to  where  the  Redaven 
falls  into  the  Ockment.  Cross  this  tributary,  and  ascend  the  road  R., 
with  the  enclosures  on  the  L.  Keep  these  on  that  side,  and  follow 
the  road  eastward  across  Black  Down.  In  rather  over  i£  m.  Anthony 
Stile  vri.11  be  reached,  near  which  is  a  small  building.  This  is  the 
filter- house  connected  with  the  Okehampton  water  supply,  which  is 
taken  from  the  Redaven.  Follow  the  track  between  the  wall  Iy., 
and  Moor  Brook  R.,  to  Moor  Gate.  (C)  From  Meldon  up  the  road 
towards  the  railway  ;  take  the  first  turning  ~L<.  under  the  bridge  ;  thence 
by  the  lane  to  Meldon  Down,  £  m.  distant.  From  the  moor  gate  a 
track  descends  to  Higher  Bowden  Steps  (T.  33),  but  the  rambler  will 
keep  this  on  his  L,.,  and  not  descend  far  below  the  brow  of  the  hill. 
By  so  doing  he  will  strike  an  old  disused  water-course,  which  now  serves 
as  a  path,  and  this  he  will  follow  along  the  side  of  South  Down  for 
about  i  m.,  to  the  point  where  the  little  Vellake  comes  down  on  the  R. 
The  scenery  is  described  in  Ex.  14.  A  short  distance  above  this  is  the 
Island  of  Rocks,  whence  the  rambler  may  make  his  way  to  Shilstone 
Tor,  on  the  slope  of  the  hill  to  the  S.  From  this  group  of  rocks  he 
will  return  to  the  Vellake,  reaching  it,  however,  a  few  hundred  yards 
above  the  confluence.  Passing  up  the  hill,  with  the  enclosures  close 
to  him  on  the  R.,  he  will  soon  reach  the  King  Way  where  it  comes 
down  from  Iron  Gates,  as  described  in  S.  Ex.  34.  From  this  point  he 
will  follow  the  directions  given  in  that  excursion. 

The  West  Ockment  from  Sandy  Ford  downward  (Ex.  14)  forms 
the  boundary  between  the  commons  of  Okehampton  and  those  in 
Sourton  parish.  At  Vellake  Corner  the  boundary  line  leaves  the 
Ockment  and  runs  up  the  little  stream,  and  is  continued  on  to  Iron 
Gates  (Ex.  13),  where,  forming  an  acute  angle,  it  turns  back  to  the 
point  where  the  King  Way  enters  on  the  enclosed  lands.  A  wedge- 
shaped  tract  is  thus  cut  out  of  the  Sourton  common  lands,  and  to 
account  for  this  erratic  course  of  the  boundary  line  the  story  often 
attached  to  spots  where  a  similar  curious  arrangement  occurs  is  related. 
This  is  to  the  effect  that  the  dead  body  of  a  strange  man  was  found 
on  the  common  belonging  to  Sourton,  but  the  people  of  that  parish 
refusing  to  give  it  burial  it  was  interred  by  the  men  of  Okehampton, 
and  as  a  consequence  that  part  of  the  moor  was  afterwards  claimed 


94  OKEHAMPTON    DISTRICT. 

by  them.*  A  similar  story  is  related  in  other  parts  of  Dartmoor. 
The  Glazes  are  said  to  have  been  lost  to  Brent  in  this  manner  (Ex. 
31),  and  the  parish  of  Shaugh  thrusts  its  boundaries  into  the  forest 
on  a  like  pretence  (Ex.  34). 

S.  Ex.  36. — Black  Tor,  9  m.  To  Meldon  Gorge  through  the  Park 
as  in  Ex.  14.  On  crossing  the  Redaven  we  shall  leave  the  Ockment 
and  ascend  Longstone  Hill  L.,  by  following  the  upward  track  (T.  33). 
When  it  bends  sharply  I,,  we  leave  it,  and  striking  a  little  E.  of  S. 
shall  soon  reach  the  Fishcombe  Water,  often  called  the  Homerton 
Brook.  This  stream  we  shall  then  follow  to  its  source,  a  charming 
spot  named  Fishcombe  Head,  where  a  few  dwarf  oaks  grow  among 
scattered  rocks,  and  at  a  considerable  height  above  the  gorge.  About 

tm.  distant,  in  a  direction  S.  by  E..  is  Black  Tor,  consisting  of  three 
ne  piles,  from  which  there  is  a  grand  view  of  the  deep  valley  of  the 
West  Ockment.  This  tor  is  seen  from  Cranmere  Pool.  Against  one 
of  the  piles  a  small  shelter  is  reared,  for  use  during  the  artillery  firing. 
Forsland  Ledge  is  seen  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  J  m.  S.E.  On  leaving 
the  tor  the  visitor  will  strike  N.E.,  and  crossing  the  common  under 
the  northern  side  of  Willes  and  Yes  Tor,  will  reach  the  ford  on  the 
Redaven  in  about  li  m.  From  that  point  he  will  follow  the  track  to 
Moor  Gate  as  described  in  Ex.  15.  Redaven  Ford  is  i  m.  E.N.E.  of 
Fishcombe  Head. 

S.  Ex.  37. — The  Blackaven  and  Dinger  Tor,  10  m.  To  New  Bridge 
as  in  Ex.  16  (T.  35).  We  do  not  cross  the  stream,  but  continue  our 
way  up  the  L.  bank  to  Curtory  Glitters,  and  on  to  Blackaven  Head. 
About  £  m.  beyond  this,  in  a  S.S.W.  direction,  is  the  source  of  Brim 
Brook.  On  reaching  this  we  follow  the  little  stream  downward  for  a 
short  distance,  when  we  shall  come  upon  a  miners'  hut  on  the  I/,  bank. 
It  is  of  the  usual  type,  and  is  17^-  feet  by  1 1  feet  on  the  inside,  the  walls 
being  between  3  feet  and  4  feet  in  height.  Below  it,  and  on  the  same 
side  of  the  stream,  is  another  ;  this  is  rather  smaller,  being  only  1 6  feet 
by  7  feet,  but  is  a  better  example.  These  buildings  are  3^  m.  from 
Moor  Gate  by  the  route  we  have  followed.  On  leaving  them  we  strike 
northward,  ascending  the  hill  to  Dinger  Tor,  less  than  £  m.  distant. 
E.  of  this  we  strike  the  track  noticed  in  Ex.  1 5  (T.  34),  and  shall  follow 
it  back  to  Moor  Gate. 

S.  Ex.  38. — West  Mil  Tor  and  Row  Tor,  6|  m.  To  Redaven  Dip 
as  in  Ex.  1 5 .  Then  strike  L.  to  West  Mil  Tor,  and  passing  over  this, 
cross  the  head  of  Creaber's  Hole  to  Row  Tor.  From  thence  N.E.  to 
the  track  running  to  New  Bridge,  which  follow  N.  to  Moor  Gate. 

S.  Ex.  39. — Crovenor  Steps,  5^  m.  To  Moor  Gate  as  in  Ex.  15. 
Then  follow  the  camp  road,  with  the  enclosures  of  Pudhanger  L.,  to 
Halstock  Down.  The  road  bears  L.  to  Crovenor  Steps,  on  the  East 
Ockment.  From  this  point  the  return  may  be  made  by  way  of  Halstock 
as  described  in  Ex.  16. 

*  I  have  referred  to  this  in  my  account  of  the  Okehampton  Com- 
mons in  the  new  edition  of  Bridges'  book  already  mentioned.  I 
learnt  from  the  late  Mr.  J.  D.  Prickman  that  it  used  to  be  said  that 
the  body  was  discovered  by  a  dog.  He  took  the  trouble  to  search  the 
registers  of  Okehampton  and  Sourton,  but  found  that  the  only  recorded 
burial  of  an  unknown  person  related  to  a  woman,  and  that  there  was 
no  entry  confirmatory  of  the  story. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Belstone  and  Stlcklepath.  95 

The  Chapel  of  Halstock  may  be  visited  on  the  return  route.  The 
direct  route  to  it  from  Okehampton  is  given  in  our  notice  of  the  path 
between  that  place  and  Belstone. 

S.  Ex.  40. — Ancient  Camp  near  Ashbury  Tor,  3^  in.  To  the  brow 
of  the  hill  near  Fitz's  Well.  We  then  enter  the  gate  on  the  L,.  as  in 
going  to  Halstock  (T.  36),  but  instead  of  following  the  road  thither 
we  strike  across  East  Hill,  our  course  being  a  little  N.  of  E.  On  the 
R.  is  Halstock  Cleave,  through  which  Moor  Brook  runs  to  join  the 
Ockment.  Passing  over  Heather  Knoll  we  reach  the  mounds  known 
as  The  Camp,  which  the  Rev.  H.  G.  Fothergill,  who  made  an  examina- 
tion of  them  in  1840,  thought  to  consist  of  British,  Danish,  and  Roman 
remains.  He  considered  that  he  found  the  first  two  periods  repre- 
sented by  some  ramparts  overlooking  Moor  Brook,  and  the  latter  by 
the  rectangular  enclosures  adjoining  these  on  the  N.  Close  by  is 
Ashbury  Tor,  beautifully  draped  with  climbing  plants,  and  half  hidden 
amid  heather.  The  spot  is  altogether  very  charming,  and  the  visitor 
should  by  no  means  omit  to  include  it  in  his  rambles.  A  fine  view  of 
Belstone  West  Cleave  is  obtained  from  the  rocks.  We  may  return  to 
the  hill  near  the  station  by  striking  over  the  down  N.W. 

(FROM  BEDSTONE). 

S.  Ex.  41. — The  West  Cleave  and  Nine  Maidens,  3^  m.  We  leave 
by  the  road  running  N.W.  from  Belstone  Church,  and  at  the  distance 
of  \  m.  shall  reach  the  entrance  to  the  old  Belstone  Rectory,  L,.  A 
short  distance  inside  the  gate,  and  built  into  the  wall  on  the  R.,  is  a 
stone  with  some  curious  markings,  which  I  have  elsewhere  noticed. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  XI.]  It  is  about  four  feet  high,  and  among  the  devices 
incised  upon  it  is  a  circle  enclosing  a  cross.  Passing  onward  from  the 
gate  we  take  the  first  turning  L,.,  which  will  lead  us  to  the  common. 
On  the  brow  of  the  hill  is  Cleave  Tor,  or  Cleave  Rocks,  as  the  mass  is 
more  often  called,  which  it  will  be  readily  seen  is  not  of  granite  forma- 
tion. A  fine  view  is  obtained  from  it  of  Halstock  Cleave  on  the  further 
side  of  the  Ockment,  and  of  Ashbury  Tor  (S.  Ex.  40).  Our  next  point 
will  be  Chapel  Ford,  to  which  the  track  running  near  the  rock  goes 
direct  (T.  36),  but  this  will  not  now  be  the  route  we  shall  follow.  The 
valley,  or  West  Cleave  as  it  is  called  [Gems,  Chap.  V.],  is  worth  seeing, 
and  we  shall  therefore  descend  its  steep  side  to  the  Ockment,  reaching 
the  stream  a  short  distance  below  the  point  where  Moor  Brook  flows 
out  of  Halstock  Cleave  to  join  it.  There  is  a  fine  cascade  on  the  river 
here.  We  pass  up  stream,  presently  reaching  Chapel  Ford,  whence 
the  path  already  described  (T.  36)  runs  up  through  Halstock  Woods. 
But  we  still  follow  the  Ockment,  and  when  we  have  gone  a  little  further 
up  the  valley  shall  come  in  sight  of  Skir  Tor.  Soon  after  passing  the 
higher  end  of  the  woods  we  reach  the  pile  ;  it  is  not  far  from  the  track 
leading  from  Belstone  to  Crovenor  Steps  (T.  37,  Ex.  16),  and  opposite 
to  a  farm  on  the  W.  side  of  the  river  known  as  East  Bowden.  Striking 
E.  from  the  tor  into  the  track  we  follow  it  upwards,  turning  aside  R. 
shortly  before  reaching  Watchet  Hill,  to  the  circle  called  the  Nine 
Stones,  and  sometimes  the  Nine  Maidens.  But  as  a  matter  of  fact 
there  are  17  of  these,  and  thus  the  circle  is  sometimes  known  as  the 
Seventeen  Brothers.  The  circle,  which  is  not  of  great  size,  probably 
surrounded  a  kistvaen,  though  no  vestiges  of  such  are  now  visible  ; 


96  BELSTONE    AND    STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

the  stones  composing  it  are  rather  small.  More  than  one  story  attaches 
to  it.  It  is  said  that  these  lumps  of  granite  were  once  creatures  of 
flesh  and  blood — a  band  of  merry  maidens,  who  met  here  to  dance  upon 
a  Sunday.  For  this  wicked  act  they  were  turned  into  stone,  and  are 
compelled  to  dance  every  day  at  noon.  That  they  do  so  may  plainly 
be  seen  when  the  conditions  are  favourable.  Maiden  is,  of  course,  a 
corruption  of  ntaen.  On  reaching  the  moor  gate  we  descend  the  lane 
to  Belstone. 

S.  Ex.  42. — The  Belstone  Ridge  and  Taw  Plain,  6  m.  Up  the  lane 
to  Watchet  Hill,  as  in  Ex.  17.  Thence  southward  along  the  ridge  to 
Ock  Tor,  2}  m.  from  the  village.  Descend  L,.  to  the  Taw,  which  will 
be  struck  at  its  confluence  with  the  Steeperton  Brook.  Pass  up  the 
R.  bank  of  the  latter  stream  for  about  |  m.,  then  turn  N.E.  over 
Metheral  Hill  to  the  source  of  Small  Brook,  which  follow  downward 
to  the  Taw.  Down  the  bank  of  that  river  to  the  fords  (Ex.  17),  and 
thence  to  Belstone  by  the  track  through  Birchy  Lake. 

(Steeperton  and  Knock  Mine  Bridge  are  noticed  in  Ex.  17). 

For  White  Moor  Circle,  Wild  Tor,  and  Watern  Tor,  see  Ex.  17,  19. 

The  routes  to  the  summit  of  Cosdon  are  given  in  the  section  dealing 
with  that  hill. 

For  direct  route  from  Belstone  to  Throvvleigh  see  S.  Ex.  47. 

(FROM  STICKLEPATH). 

S.  Ex.  43. — South  Tawton,  Oxenham,  and  South  Zeal,  3^  in.  We 
take  the  eastern  road  from  the  village  as  in  Ex.  18,  but  on  crossing 
the  bridge  instead  of  turning  R.,  or  keeping  straight  on  to  South  Zeal, 
shall  strike  into  a  narrow  lane  L.  This  will  bring  us  to  South  Tawton, 
£  m.  distant,  a  charming  example  of  a  Dartmoor  border  village,  with 
its  playstow  and  ancient  tree.  (About  3  m.  distant,  on  the  road  to 
North  Tawton,  is  the  fine  old  mansion  of  North  Week,  or  Wyke). 

Taking  the  road  to  the  mill  E.,  the  visitor  will  pass  this  and  ascend 
the  hill  to  Oxenham  Cross,  of  which  monument,  however,  only  a  small 
fragment  now  remains.  This  stands  in  the  hedge  I/.  [Crosses,  Chap. 
XII.]  Just  beyond  this  on  the  R.  is  the  entrance  to  Oxenham,  an 
eighteenth  century  farmhouse  built  on,  or  near,  the  site  of  the  ancient 
mansion  of  that  name.  With  the  family  of  Oxenham  was  connected 
the  tradition  of  the  White  Bird,  the  notice  of  which  inHowelTs  Familiar 
Letters  has  been  so  often  quoted.  The  White  Bird  was  said  to  appear 
as  a  forewarning  of  the  death  of  the  head  of  the  family,  and  sometimes 
of  that  of  other  of  its  members.  There  are  many  accounts  of  the 
appearance  of  this  mysterious  visitor  between  1618  and  1873.  "  How 
Mr.  Oxenham  saw  the  White  Bird  "  will  be  well  remembered  by  all 
readers  of  Westward  Ho !  A  poem  has  also  been  written  on  the 
subject. 

(If  the  rambler  desires  he  may  extend  his  walk  along  the  lane  for 
about  \  m.  beyond  the  entrance  to  Oxenham  to  Ringhole  Copse,  at 
the  eastern  end  of  which  is  a  very  fine  wayside  cross). 

Turing  from  Oxenham  Cross  the  visitor  will  strike  into  the  lane 
opposite  to  it,  and  running  S.,  which  will  bring  him  in  about  i  m.  to 
the  village  of  South  Zeal.  The  way  now  lies  through  the  single  long 
street  of  which  the  place  mainly  consists,  one  part  of  which  ascends 
the  hill  north-westward.  Formerly  this  was  the  coach  road,  but  in  a 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Belstone  and  Sticklepath  97 

later  time  a  new  road  was  cut,  and  the  descent  into  South  Zeal  and  the 
climb  out  of  it  avoided.  The  latter  is  the  one  running  by  Prospect 
Place  (Cosdon  Section)  to  Ramsleigh  Mine,  where  it  turns  abruptly  to 
the  east,  and  joins  the  Exeter  road  again  about  £  m.  E.  of  the  village, 
and  not  far  from  a  little  common  called  Firestone  Ley.  Most  of  the 
houses  in  South  Zeal  are  covered  with  thatch,  and  have  a  pleasing 
old-world  air.  Part  way  up  the  hill  on  the  L.  is  the  Chapel  of  St. 
Mary  and  St.  Thomas,  and  near  it  an  ancient  cross  set  in  a  socket- 
stone  on  a  calvary  consisting  of  three  steps.  A  small  panel  will  be 
observed  on  this  base,  in  which  are  some  faint  markings.  This 
inscription  was  the  work  of  a  native  of  the  place  called  John  Stanbury. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  XII.]  In  1298  Robert  de  Toeny,  then  the  holder  of 
the  manor,  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  South  Zeal  the  right  to  hold 
a  market  and  two  fairs  annually. 

Passing  up  the  steep  street  the  visitor  will  reach  Zeal  Head  Cross, 
or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  Townsend  Cross,  £  m.  above  the  chapel. 
This  is  now  only  a  cross  road,  but  formerly  a  monument  of  the  kind 
indicated  by  the  name  stood  here,  but  is  said  to  have  been  destroyed 
by  a  man  named  John  Orchard,  who  lived  at  Ford  Farm.  Still  follow- 
ing the  road  the  visitor  will  in  less  than  \  m.  reach  the  bridge  at 
Sticklepath. 

S.  Ex.  44. — Dishcombe  and  West  Week,  4%  m.  As  in  the  last 
excursion  the  visitor  will  cross  the  Taw  and  bear  ~L,.  to  South  Tawton 
village.  Thence  he  will  follow  the  road  leading  to  South  Zeal  as  far 
as  Moon's,  or  Mohun's,  Cross,  the  remains  of  which  stand  on  an  open 
space  in  front  of  an  old  barn.  Here  the  road  forks,  the  point  being  a 
very  important  one.  Travellers  from  the  north  would  here  branch  off 
according  as  they  were  journeying  along  the  northern  or  the  eastern 
edge  of  the  moor.  Our  way  will  lie  to  the  L.,  and  following  the  road 
south-eastward  we  shall  leave  the  village  of  Zeal  on  our  R.,  and  £  m. 
from  the  cross  shall  pass  Dishcombe,  and  ascend  the  hill  to  the  Exeter 
road  a  little  to  the  E.  of  its  junction  with  the  new  one  running  on  to 
Ramsleigh  Mine.  We  cross  this  and  enter  a  narrow  lane,  shortly 
reaching  a  gate  on  the  R.  Passing  through  this  we  find  ourselves 
in  a  rough  bridle-path,  forming  one  of  the  means  of  approach  to  West 
Week.  This  ancient  house,  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  this  part 
of  the  Dartmoor  borderland,  was  formerly  the  seat  of  the  Wyke,  or 
Weekes,  family,  and  also  of  the  Battishills.  There  is  a  fine  old 
embattled  gateway,  on  which  is  carved  the  coat  of  the  last-named 
and  the  date  1656.  Opposite  to  this  are  the  remains  of  an  old  cross 
placed  under  a  tree.  Readers  of  John  Herring  will  remember  that  it 
was  to  West  Week  that  the  father  of  Mirelle  was  taken  after  the  carriage 
accident.  In  full  view  from  the  house  is  the  slope  down  which  rolled 
old  Cobbledick's  barrel. 

The  way  will  now  take  the  visitor  past  the  house  and  by  some  fine 
old  trees  to  a  narrow  lane  leading  down  to  the  main  road  at  Moorview. 
On  reaching  this  he  will  turn  R.,  and  passing  Ramsleigh  Mine  and 
Prospect  Place  will  return  to  Sticklepath. 

S.  Ex.  45. — Cheriton  Combe  and  Payne's  Bridge,  5^  m.  To  Ford 
as  in  the  ascent  of  Cosdon,  but  on  turning  I,,  when  leaving  the  little 
stream  keep  straight  on,  between  the  enclosures,  instead  of  again 
turning  R.  up  to  the  common.  Keep  a  southerly  course  (there 


98  BELSTONE    AND   STICKLEPATH    DISTRICT. 

are  a  few  turnings  here),  and  soon  the  peat  road  coming  up  from 
Prospect  Place  (T.  41)  will  be  entered  upon.  Follow  this  to  the 
Cemetery  (Cosdon  Section),  and  leaving  it  there,  strike  south-eastward 
over  the  common,  keeping  Cheriton  Combe  on  the  R.  (Cosdon  Section, 
Ex.  1 8).  On  reaching  Blackaton  Brook  cross  it  and  follow  the  R. 
bank  down  to  Payne's  Bridge,  passing  Shilley  Pool  (Ex.  18)  on  the  way. 
From  this  part  of  the  common  the  hamlet  of  East  Week,  mentioned 
in  Ex.  1 8,  is  in  full  view.  The  road  running  through  it  goes  on  to 
Gooseford,  or  Goosaford  as  it  is  called  in  the  locality,  and  thence  to  the 
Exeter  road  near  the  little  village  of  Wh'ddon  Down.  L.  of  East 
Week  is  the  farm  of  Middle  Week,  and  below  it,  and  nearer  to  the 
visitor,  is  Clannaborough  Wood.  At  the  head  of  this  the  Blackaton 
Brook  makes  a  bend  ;  its  course  changing  from  about  N.E.  to  S.E. 

The  visitor  will  cross  Payne's  Bridge,  a  small  structure  of  one  arch, 
and  follow  the  road  northward  to  Moorview  at  the  entrance  to  West 
Week,  whence  he  will  return  to  Sticklepath  by  the  road  as  in  S.  Ex.  44. 

S.  Ex.  46. — Throwleigh,  T\  m.  Crossing  the  Taw  the  visitor  will 
bear  R.  as  in  S.  Ex.  45,  and  follow  the  road  past  Prospect  Place, 
Dry  Arch,  and  Ramsleigh  Mine  to  Moor  View.  About  100  yards 
beyond  this  the  road  forks,  the  L.  branch  going  on  through  East  Week 
and  Goosaford  (see  S.  Ex.  45),  and  the  R.  to  Throwleigh  and  Gidleigh, 
The  visitor  will  choose  the  latter,  and  speedily  reach  Payne's  Bridge 
the  route  up  to  this  point  being  the  reverse  of  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
excursion.  Just  beyond  the  bridge,  and  not  far  from  a  dwelling-house 
which  is  seen  on  the  side  of  the  hill  R.,  the  road  to  Throwleigh  branches 
off  L.,  the  other  running  on  past  Shilstone  to  Creber  Pound  and  Berry 
Down.  (See  Road  Distances').  Striking  into  this  I,,  branch  the  visitor 
will  soon  reach  Clannaborough  Farm  on  the  verge  of  the  common, 
where  he  will  enter  upon  the  enclosed  lands.  A  little  further  on  a 
footpath  runs  across  some  fields  R.  direct  to  Throwleigh  village  ;  the 
lane  will  lead  the  visitor  through  a  part  of  Clannaborough  Copse. 
Throwleigh  Church  is  on  the  R.  as  the  village  is  entered.  It  possesses 
several  features  worthy  of  notice  ;  there  is  a  very  fine  priest's  doorway, 
and  the  carving  of  the  ribs  and  bosses  of  the  roof  is  good.  There  is 
also  a  granite  tomb  in  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel,  but  as  it  bears  no 
inscription  much  of  its  interest  is  unfortunately  lost.  The  lich  gate 
is  ancient,  as  also  is  the  church  house  near  it.  A  few  score  yards  east- 
ward is  an  open  space  usually  known  as  Throwleigh  Barton  Cross,  in 
the  centre  of  which  is  a  granite  cross  standing  on  a  low  calvary  of  the 
same,  formed  by  three  steps.  It  was  erected,  as  the  inscription  upon 
it  shows,  in  1897.  Only  the  base,  or  socket-stone,  is  ancient. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  XIII. 1  From  the  gate  of  the  churchyard  a  lane  runs 
southward  up  the  hill  to  Shilstone  Farm  (Ex.  18),  on  the  verge  of  the 
common.  This  the  visitor  will  follow,  taking  care  not  to  turn  L.  at 
the  southern  corner  of  the  graveyard  into  Deave  Lane.  Shilstone  is 
rather  less  than  £  m.  from  the  village.  The  farmhouse,  like  most  of 
the  older  border  dwellings,  is  surrounded  by  some  fine  trees,  and  is  a 
good  specimen  of  the  habitations  of  the  yeomen  of  two  or  three  centuries 
since. 

From  the  farm  the  rambler  will  pass  on  to  the  common,  where  he 
will  find  himself  close  to  Shilstone  Tor,  from  which  point  he  may  return 
to  Sticklepath  by  either  of  the  routes  described  in  Ex.  18  and  S.  Ex.  45. 
If  the  latter,  via  Payne's  Bridge,  the  distance  will  be  about  f  m.  less. 


EXCURSIONS   FROM   THROWLEIGH. 


TO  BEDSTONE). 


99 


S.  Ex.  47. — Via  White  Moor  Stone,  6.m.  The  first  point  will  be 
Shilstone  Farm.  The  rambler  will  strike  W.  by  S.  up  over  Shilstone 
Hill,  leaving  White  Moor  Marsh  I,.,  to  Kennon  Hill  (Ex.  18).  This  he 
will  cross  to  the  bondstone  on  the  Gallaven  track  (T.  42),  and  thence 
proceed  westward  to  White  Moor  Stone.  Directions  for  reaching 
Belstone  from  this  object  are  given  in  Ex.  17,  but  Brook  Hill  and  White 
Hill  may  be  left  a  little  to  the  R.  in  descending  to  the  fords  on  the  Taw. 
The  straight  course  to  these  from  White  Moor  Circle  is  N.W.  by  N. 

Via  North  end  of  Raybarrow  Pool,  5  m.  This,  the  more  direct 
route,  passes  exactly  i  m.  N.  of  White  Moor  Stone.  Prom  Shilstone 
Farm  the  course  is  W.N.W.  by  W.  Blackaton  Brook  is  crossed  at, 
or  near,  the  lower  ford  of  the  Gallaven  track  (T.  42),  and  the  Peat 
Road  (T.  41)  a  little  to  the  northward  of  Raybarrow  Pool.  The  next 
point  is  White  Hill,  whence  the  rambler  descends  to  the  fords  on  the 
Taw  (Ex.  17),  leaving  Taw  Marsh  on  his  L,.  There  is  no  difficulty  in 
striking  a  bee-line,  the  ground  being  good  throughout  the  whole 
distance.  Conversely  the  points  from  Belstone  will  be  the  fords 
above  Birchy  Lake  ;  thence  E.S.E.  to  the  summit  of  White  Hill ; 
thence,  following  the  same  course,  to  the  northern  end  of  Raybarrow 
Pool  ;  and  then  bearing  a  trifle  more  E.  to  the  Blackaton  Brook  and 
Shilstone  Farm. 


Steeperton  Tor. 


The  Taw. 
FROM   TAW  PI,AIN,    BOOKING   S. 


TOO  ROUTE  24.     OKEHAMPTON  TO  CHAGFORD. 


Routes  from  Okehampton,  Belstone 
and  Sticklepath. 

(Return  not  included  in  the  distances  given). 

R.  24. — To  Chagford  and  Moreton,  S.E.  by  E.  (A)  Crovenor 
Steps,  Fords  on  the  Taw,  North  end  of  Raybarrow  Pool,  Shilstone  Tor, 
thence  by  road.  C,  II  m.  ;  M,  15^  m.  Reverse,  R.  38  A.  (B)  Cro- 
venor Steps,  Small  Brook  Foot,  White  Moor  Stone,  Berry  Down,  thence 
by  road.  Distance  about  the  same.  Reverse,  R.  38  B. 

[Objects:  Ex.  16,  17,  18,  19.] 

From  Belstone  the  route  will  lie  (A)  through  Birchy  Lake  to  the 
fords  on  the  Taw,  i£  m.  (B)  to  Small  Brook  Foot,  J  m.  further  up 
the  stream.  In  the  latter  case  it  will  be  well  not  to  cross  the  Taw  until 
arriving  at  Small  Brook,  and  so  avoid  the  marsh  on  the  R.  bank.  The 
distance  is  about  2  m.  less  than  from  Okehampton. 

From  Sticklepath  the  road  is  followed  to  Payne's  Bridge  as  in 
S.  Ex.  46,  thence  keeping  R.  at  the  fork  just  beyond  it  to  Shilstone 
Tor.  C,  7$  m.  ;  M,  12^  m. 

(A)  Setting  out  from  Okehampton  the  rambler  will  first  make  his 
way  to  the  brow  of  the  hill  near  Fitz's  Well,  as  in  Ex.  15,  and  thence  by 
the  gate  L.  to  Halstock,  as  described  in  the  route  to  Belstone,  T.  36.  On 
reaching  the  entrance  to  Chapel  Lands  the  road  running  to  the  moor 
gate  near  Halstock  Pound  is  followed,  from  which  point  a  short  track 
runs  S.  past  Halstock  Corner  to  Kelly's  Corner,  where  is  a  stone  mark- 
ing the  boundary  of  land  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Lydford,  and  lying 
outside  the  forest  limits  as  now  recognized.  The  next  point  is  Cro- 
venor Steps,*  £  m.  S.S.E.,  and  the  road  is  then  followed  up  the  hill  to 
Winter  Tor,  with  Higher  Tor  L.  (Ex.  17).  From  Winter  Tor  the 
rambler  will  descend  to  the  fords  on  the  Taw,  rather  over  £  m.  E. 
From  this  point  the  directions  for  reaching  Shilstone  Tor  as  given  in 
S.  Ex.  47  must  be  followed.  Here  the  road  will  be  struck,  and  the 

*  On  the  East  Ockment.  The  following  lines  are  from  Miss  Sophie 
Dixon's  poem  on  this  river  (1830) : — 

Startmg  in  hoary  gush  his  waters  roll 

Their  battling  strength,  and  with  the  crags  contend  ; 

Till  gentler  scenes  his  turbulence  control, 

And  the  green  branches  o'er  his  bosom  bend. 

A  voice  of  waves  comes  swelling  up  the  glen, 

Where  torn  mid  rocky  chinks  the  cataracts  play  ; 

Now  heard  like  heaven's  own  thunderings,  and  then 
On  the  gale's  softest  murmur  soothed  away. 


Route  25.    Okehampton  and  Belstone  to  Bovey  Tracey.        101 

rambler  will  turn  S.,  reaching  Forder  Bridge  in  J  m.  Forder  Brook  is 
a  small  tributary  of  Blackaton  Brook,  falling  into  it  at  Blackaton 
Bridge,  not  far  from  the  hamlet  of  Providence  Place.  Soon  after 
crossing  the  brook  Great  and  Little  Ensworthy  Farms  are  passed  L.  ; 
Buttern  House  is  seen  on  the  moor  R.  A  little  further  on  the  road 
enters  the  enclosures  at  Moortown,  and  here  it  forks.  The  R.  branch 
must  be  followed  for  £  m.  to  the  entrance  to  Thule.  Turn  into  this 
to  the  farm  L.,  whence  a  footpath  across  some  fields  runs  S.E.  towards 
Gidleigh.  This  will  bring  the  rambler  to  a  steep  hill  down  which 
he  will  pass  for  a  few  yards,  and  then  turn  R.  The  old  manor  pound 
will  be  seen  L.,  and  just  beyond  it  is  Gidleigh  village,  from  which  the 
road  will  be  followed  down  to  Highbury  Bridge,  where  Blackaton  Brook 
is  crossed.  It  then  ascends  to  Murchington,  i£  m.  from  Gidleigh,  and 
runs  down  Walland  Hill  to  Chagford  Bridge.  This  part  of  the  road  is 
noticed  in  our  account  of  Chagford  District. 

(B)  To  Crovenor  Steps  and  Winter  Tor  as  in  the  preceding  route. 
Thence  down  the  hill  S.E.  to  Small  Brook  Foot  (Ex.  17),  and  up 
Metheral  Hill,  with  Small  Brook  L.  and  Steeperton  Brook  R.,  the  course 
being  the  same  until  abreast  of  the  source  of  the  former,  when  the 
rambler  will  bend  a  little  L.,  and  on  reaching  the  top  of  Hound  Tor 
Ridge  will  pass  the  White  Moor  Circle  I,.,  and  make  his  way  to  White 
Moor  Stone  (Ex.  17).  The  course  will  now  be  S.E.  by  E.  across  the 
shoulder  of  Kennon  Hill,  the  head  of  White  Moor  Bottom,  and  Buttern 
Down,  to  the  stroll  above  Berry  Down  (Ex.  19),  a  distance  of  2  m. 
(Buttern  Down  is  noticed  in  Ex.  18,  19).  At  the  bottom  of  Berry 
Down  Stroll,  which  is  referred  to  in  the  Chagford  District,  the  rambler 
will  turn  into  the  lane  R.,  and  passing  Berry  Down  Farm,  will  descend 
the  hill,  with  Gidleigh  village  L.,  to  Highbury  Bridge,  whence  he  will 
proceed  to  Chagford  as  in  the  former  route. 

The  road  from  Chagford  to  Moreton  is  described  in  the  account 
of  that  district. 

R.  25. — To  Bovey  Tracey,  S.E.  by  E.  The  best  route  is  through 
Chagford,  following  the  instructions  given  in  R.  24,  31,  22  m. 
Reverse,  R.  46,  38.  But  should  the  rambler  prefer  to  go  by  way  of 
the  moor  instead  of  partly  through  lanes,  the  directions  for  doing  so 
are  here  furnished. 

White  Moor  Stone,  Teign  Clapper,  South  Teign,  Bovey  River, 
Hookney  Down,  Heather  combe,  Heytree  Cross,  Swine  Down  Gate,  Leighon, 
Trendlebere  Down,  Lower  Down  Cross.  Distance  about  the  same. 
Reverse,  R.  45. 

Visitors  from  Belstone  and  Sticklepath  will  join  these  routes  as  in 
R.  24,  except  that  if  the  moor  route  be  chosen  those  from  Sticklepath 
will  leave  the  road  at  Ensworthy,  and  strike  S.  across  the  side  of 
Buttern  Hill  towards  the  Creber  enclosures,  passing  between  them  L-, 
and  a  newtake,  disconnected  with  others,  on  the  hillside  R.  Still  keep- 
ing S.  Teign  Clapper  will  be  reached  from  this  point  in  about  i  m. 

[Objects  :  Ex.  17  to  24.] 

For  the  first  few  miles  the  route  will  be  the  same  as  R.  24  B,  but 
on  reaching  the  side  of  Kennon  Hill  after  leaving  White  Moor  Stone 
(Ex.  17),  the  rambler  will  bear  S.E.,  a  course  that  will  bring  him  in 
about  2  m.  to  the  great  stone  circle  on  Scorhill  Down  (Ex.  19).  Near 
this  is  Teign  Clapper,  where  he  will  cross  the  North  Teign  immediately 


102         Route  26.    Okehampton  and  Belstone  to  Ashburton. 

below  where  it  receives  the  Walla  Brook.  The  course  is  then  up  the  hill 
S.S.E.  to  Shovel  Down,  with  the  Batworthy  enclosures  L.,  and  across 
the  site  of  the  stone  remains  described  in  Ex.  20.  Beyond  Batworthy 
Corner,  still  following  the  same  course  with  Kes  Tor  L.,  the  rambler 
will  make  his  way  to  the  Long  Stone,  ij  m.  from  the  circle  at  Scorhill. 
Thence  the  way  lies  down  the  hill  to  the  South  Teign.  If  this  cannot 
be  crossed  here  it  must  be  followed  up  for  a  short  distance  to  Fern- 
worthy  Bridge  (Ex.  20),  when  the  rambler  will  make  his  way  back  by 
the  road  to  the  wall  of  the  Metheral  enclosures,  and  at  the  corner  of 
these,  where  it  turns  abruptly  to  the  L.  near  a  rivulet,  will  leave  it 
and  strike  up  over  the  common,  his  course  being  due  S.  He  must 
avoid  keeping  to  the  L.  of  this  line,  as  should  he  do  so  he  will  strike 
Metheral  Bogs  (S.  Ex.  58).  When  abreast  of  the  head  of  this  mire 
the  course  must  be  changed  to  E.S.E.,  and  followed  for  over  3  m.  to 
Heathercombe.  First  the  valley  of  the  Bovey  River,  or  as  it  is  usually 
called  in  this  part  of  its  course,  the  Hurston  Water,  is  crossed  ;  then 
the  Princetown  and  Moreton  road  ;  then  (about  £  m.  further  on)  the 
Challacombe  road  ;  and  then  Hookney  Down.  This  should  bring  the 
rambler  to  King's  Barrow,  a  small  tumulus  near  to  which  is  a  kistvaen 
(Ex.  22).  Rather  over  £  m.  beyond  this,  the  course  being  still  E.S.E., 
is  Heathercombe  (S.  Ex.  62),  where  he  will  enter  upon  a  lane. 
This  is  followed  past  Hey  tree  to  Hey  tree  Cross,  about  £  m.,  at  which 
point  he  will  turn  R.  into  the  Ashburton  road.  This  will  lead  him 
along  the  edge  of  Cripdon  Down  and  Swine  Down  to  Swine  Down  Gate, 
locally  Swallerton  Gate,  i|  in.  from  the  cross  road  (Ex.  24).  Passing 
through  this  he  will  turn  L.  and  follow  a  narrow  lane  leading  down 
into  the  valley  of  the  Becky  Brook.  Hound  Tor  is  seen  boldly  placed 
on  the  hill  R.  Soon  after  entering  upon  the  enclosed  land,  a  narrow 
road  branches  I,,  to  Great  Hound  Tor  Farm,  but  the  rambler  will  bear 
R.  to  the  stream.  There  he  will  cross  Leighon  Bridge,  and  make  his 
way  up  the  hill  past  the  house  of  that  name  to  the  common,  and  follow 
the  road  for  rather  over  \  m.  to  another  that  comes  L.  from  Manaton. 
This  he  will  cross,  and  striking  a  little  S.  of  E.  over  the  down,  will 
descend  the  hill  to  a  corner  of  Yarner  Wood,  about  £  m.  distant,  where 
he  will  find  himself  on  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive.  Turning  R.  into  this 
he  will  be  led  over  Trendlebere  Down  to  the  east  side  of  the  wood. 
Keep  R.  to  the  guide-post  near  one  of  the  entrances  to  Yarner.  (The 
house  was  once  known  as  Chad  Wycke).  Here  the  road  runs  along 
the  foot  of  Lower  Down  for  nearly  i  m.  to  Lower  Down  Cross.  At 
this  point  the  rambler  will  turn  down  the  hill  L.,  and  in  about  £  m. 
will  reach  Bovey  Station. 

R.  26. — To  Ashburton,  S.E.  by  S.  White  Moor  Stone,  Teign 
Clapper,  South  Teign,  Warren  House  Inn,  Grendon  Bridge,  Bittleford 
Down,  Cockingford,  Buckland-in-the-Moor,  22%  m.  Reverse,  R.  52. 

Belstone  and  Sticklepath  visitors  will  join  this  route  as  described 
in  R.  25. 

[Objects  :  Ex.  17  to  22,  44  and  26.] 

For  the  first  10  miles  this  route  is  identical  with  R.  25  (the  moor 
route),  but  when  the  rambler  is  abreast  of  the  head  of  Metheral  Bogs, 
his  course,  instead  of  being  changed  to  E.S.E.,  will  lie  over  Hurston 
Ridge  and  the  E.  slope  of  Watern  Hill,  a  little  E.  of  S.  This  will  bring 
him  in  about  I J  m.  to  the  Warren  House  Inn,  on  the  Princetown  and 
Moreton  road.  Immediately  in  front  of  this  hostelry  a  footpath  runs 


Route  27.     Okehampton  to  Brent  and  Ivybridge.  103 

to  Golden  Dagger  Mine,  first  crossing  a  leat  and  then  the  Walla  Brook. 
The  rambler  will  follow  it  until  he  has  passed  over  the  latter  (less 
than  £  m)  and  will  then  turn  due  S.  This  course  will  take  him.  over 
Soussons  Common  to  the  Post  Bridge  and  Widecombe  road  at  the 
point  known  as  Ephraim's  Pinch  (Ex.  44),  i£  m.  distant.  About 
midway  he  will  pass  a  group  of  tumuli.  On  reaching  the  road  he 
must  turn  L-,  or  eastward,  and  descending  Ephraim's  Pinch,  follow 
it  to  Grendon  Bridge  on  the  West  Webburn.  The  way  then  lies  by 
Hill  Head  to  Lower  Blackaton,  as  in  R.  5,  C.  Here  the  Broadford 
Brook  is  crossed,  and  the  road  R.  is  followed  southward  over  Bittleford 
Down.  (Pass  three  turnings  R.  See  R.  33).  Near  the  S.E.  corner 
of  this  it  joins  the  road  from  Ponsworthy  to  Widecombe.  Here  the 
rambler  turns  L.  for  a  few  hundred  yards,  and  then  down  the  hill  R. 
to  Cockingford  (R.  5  A).  £  m.  beyond  this  is  a  turning  R.  into  which 
the  rambler  will  strike,  and  will  be  led  in  i  m.  to  the  church  of  Buckland- 
in-the-Moor.  From  this  point  Ashburton  is  3-^  m.  distant,  the  road, 
which  is  noticed  in  the  account  of  that  district,  running  in  a  south- 
easterly direction. 

R.  27.— To  Brent  and  Ivybridge,  S.S.E.  to  S.  by  E.  Neiv  Bridge, 
Ockment  Hill,  Cranmere,  East  Dart  Valley,  Broad  Down,  Hollow  Combe, 
Muddy  Lakes,  Prince  Hall  Bridge,  Fo%  Tor,  Black  Lane,  Red  Lake 
Ford,  Western  Whitaburrow,  Shipley,  Brent.  (To  Ivybridge  from  Black 
Lane  :  Erme  Head,  Green  Bottom,  Valley  of  the  Ernie,  Harford  Bridge). 
To  Brent,  26  m.  ;  to  Ivybridge,  27  m.  Reverse,  R.  63.  To  Cornwood 
see  R.  28. 

Visitors  from  Belstone  and  Sticklepath  will  join  this  route  at  Cran- 
mere (C.R.  10). 

[Objects  are  noticed  in  Ex.  15  and  16  ;  in  C.R.  9  and  17  ;  and 
Ex.  45,  46,  3,  4,  30,  and  33.] 

The  first  part  of  this  route  in  described  in  Ex.  16  and  C.R.  9, 
\\hich  together  give  directions  for  reaching  Cranmere  Pool,  and  in  C.R. 
17,  which  will  show  the  way  from  the  pool  down  the  upper  valley  of 
the  East  Dart.  But  on  reaching  Sandy  Hole  (Ex.  45)  the  directions 
given  in  C.  R.  17  must  no  longer  be  followed.  The  rambler  must  there 
leave  the  river  and  strike  due  S.  across  Broad  Down  for  i  m.,  when  he 
will  reach  Hollow  Combe,  through  which  the  Cherry  Brook  runs.  He 
will  cross  this  just  where  the  great  reave  (Ex.  46)  is  seen  running  up 
the  precipitous  side  of  the  hill  R.  to  Lower  White  Tor,  and  still  follow- 
ing a  course  due  S.,  with  the  Powder  Mills  Cottages  L.,  will  in  2  m.  reach 
the  Princetown  and  Moreton  road.  This  must  be  crossed,  and  a 
course  still  due  S.  be  kept  over  Muddy  Lakes  to  Prince  Hall  Lodge, 
about  i  m.  distant.  The  rambler  will  then  follow  the  road  to  Prince 
Hall  Bridge,  as  described  in  Ex.  4.  Passing  a  few  hundred  yards  up 
the  lane  he  will  take  the  first  turning  R.  and  make  his  way  by  Moorlands 
to  Tor  Royal  Newtake  close  by  (Ex.  4).  Here  he  will  again  turn  due 
S.,  his  point  being  Fox  Tor,  and  in  about  i£  m.  will  reach  the  Swin- 
combe  River.  He  should  strike  this  near  the  point  where  the  Wheal 
Emma  Leat  is  taken  in  from  the  stream,  close  to  which  is  a  ford  (Ex.  3). 
From  this  crossing-place  he  may  either  make  his  way  direct  to  Fox 
Tor,  which  he  will  see  above  him  (with  Childe's  Tomb  on  the  plain 
ground  at  its  foot),  or  keep  L.  and  follow  up  the  stream  towards  the 
ruined  Fox  Tor  farmhouse,  and  then  ascend  the  hill  with  the  tor  R. 


104  Route  28.    Okehampton  to  Cornwood  and  Plympton. 

Black  Lane  commences  to  the  S.  of  the  tor,  and  this  will  now  form  his 
path.  (See  T.  75,  Ex.  3,  and  R.  7).  On  reaching  the  head  of  the  great 
stream-work  the  rambler  will  find  himself  near  Ducks'  Pool,  and  on 
the  route  from  Princetown  to  Brent,  which  latter  is  about  j\  m.  in  a 
south-easterly  direction  (R.  7),  and  to  this  he  is  referred.  If  his 
destination  be  Ivybridge,  8£  m.  S.,  he  will  follow  Dark  Lake  downward 
to  the  stream-work  at  Erme  Head,  from  which  point  directions  for 
reaching  that  place  are  given  in  R.  7. 

R.  28. — To  Cornwood,  Ilympton,  and  Shaugh.  The  first  a  little 
E.  of  S.  ;  the  others  a  little  W.  of  S.  Dinner  Plain,  Broad  Amicombe 
Hole,  Tavy  Hole,  Walkham  Head,  Rundle  Stone,  Princetown,  Nosworthy 
Bridge,  Sheeps  Tor,  Cadaford  Bridge.  To  Cornwood,  27  m.  ;  Plympton, 
27  m.  ;  Shaugh,  24  m.  Reverse,  R.  70.  This  route  is  identical  with 
R.  29  and  R.  8,  q.v. 

R.  29. — To  Princetown,  with  branch  to  Two  Bridges,  and  routes 
from  Belstone  and  Sticklepath,  S.  Dinger  Plain,  Broad  Amicombe 
Hole,  Tavy  Hole,  Walkham  Head,  Rundle  Stone,  Princetown,  15^  m. 
To  Two  Bridges  via  Walkham  Head :  Conies  Down,  Lich  Path, 
Cowsic  Valley,  14  m.  From  Belstone  to  Princetown,  via  Black- 
aven  and  Brim  Brook,  or  via  Taw  Head  and  Little  Kneeset,  14^  m. 
Belstone  to  Two  Bridges  :  Taw  Head,  East  Dart  Head,  Broad  Marsh, 
Broad  Down,  West  Dart  Valley,  I2f  m.  ;  from  Taw  Head  via  Cut  Hill, 
13  m.  Reverses,  R.  3. 

[Objects:  Exs.  15,  10,  6,  5,  n  ;  and  C.R.  2,  10,  17.] 
The  first  point  will  be  Moor  Gate,  whence  the  track  to  Dinger 
Plain  (T.  34)  will  be  followed  as  in  Ex.  15,  but  will  not  be  left  until  the 
rambler  reaches  Dinger  Tor.  The  next  point  is  Broad  Amicombe  Hole, 
the  dip  which  will  be  seen  to  the  R.  of  Great  Kneeset  (R.  3),  but  it 
will  not  be  wise  to  make  direct  for  it,  as  it  may  not  be  possible  to  cross 
the  West  Ockment  so  low  down.  We  shall  therefore  strike  S.,  and  in 
£  m.  shall  reach  Kneeset  Nose,  following  the  Brim  Brook  to  the  river, 
and  near  this  shall  have  no  difficulty  in  finding  a  crossing-place.  On 
reaching  the  L.  bank  of  the  Ockment  we  make  our  way  downward  in 
a  S.S.W.  direction,  to  the  bend  £  m.  distant.  We  then  leave  the 
stream  and  climb  the  hill  to  Broad  Amicombe  Hole,  £  m.,  our  course 
being  altered  to  S.W.  We  now  follow  the  infant  Amicombe,  which 
here  runs  due  S.,  downward  for  i  m.,  to  where  it  receives  the  Cut 
Combe  Water  (Ex.  n,  Extension),  which  is  the  second  tributary 
flowing  into  it  on  the  L.  Here  we  cross  the  stream,  and  still  pursuing 
a  southerly  course,  shall  pass  over  the  shoulder  of  Fur  Tor  to  Tavy 
Hole,  £  m.,  which  the  rambler  should  reach  just  where  the  Fur  Tor 
Brook  runs  into  the  Tavy.  (Care  must  be  taken  not  to  keep  too 
far  up  the  side  of  Fur  Tor  on  leaving  the  Amicombe,  or  the  rambler 
will  find  himself  amid  a  clatter,  where  progress  will  be  slow  ;  nor  must 
he  keep  too  near  the  river,  or  he  will  get  into  boggy  ground).  If  noth- 
ing is  seen  of  the  tiny  Fur  Tor  Brook  the  rambler  will  be  nearer  than 
he  ought  to  be  to  the  Amicombe  ;  if  he  is  higher  than  his  line  to  the 
confluence  should  bring  him,  he  will  strike  it  shortly  before  reaching  the 
Tavy.  This,  indeed,  is  as  it  should  be,  for  the  exact  point  he  has  to 
reach  is  £  m.  above  the  confluence  ;  if  he  strikes  the  latter,  therefore, 
he  will  follow  up  the  Tavy  for  that  distance.  Looking  back  he  should 


Route  30.    Okehampton  to  Lydford  and  Tavistock.  105 

now  see  Fur  Tor  N.E.  by  N.  The  next  point  is  Walkham  Head  (Ex.  10), 
but  a  straight  course  up  the  hill  must  not  be  followed,  or  the  rambler 
•will  get  into  a  bad  piece  of  fen.  (See  R.  3).  His  line  should  be  S.W.  for 
about  \  m.  and  then  he  must  turn  due  S.,  when  he  will  pass  over  some 
old  turf  ties,  and  reach  the  stream  in  a  little  over  \  m.  This  he  will 
cross  just  above  its  first  bend,  and  will  shortly  find  himself  on  the  old 
peat  track  that  runs  into  Peter  Tavy  (T.  16).  This  passes  down  the 
shallow  valley  about  ^  m.  from  the  L.  bank  of  the  stream,  and  must 
be  followed  for  f  m.  to  the  head  of  the  Prison  Leat,  which  will  now 
become  the  rambler's  guide.  (See  Ex.  5  and  6).  It  will  lead  him 
between  Black  Dunghill  (L)  and  Great  Mis  Tor  (R)  to  Rundle  Stone 
(or  the  Prison  enclosures  near  it),  whence  the  road  rurs  direct  to  Prince- 
town. 

To  Two  Bridges  from  Walkham  Head.  When  rather  less  than 
\  m.  down  the  peat  track  (T.  16)  the  rambler  must  leave  it  and  strike 
S.E.,  and  in  £  m.  he  will  reach  a  ford  on  Spriddle  Lake,  where  he  will 
cross  that  little  tributary.  Soon  after  this,  the  course  being  the  same, 
he  will  cross  another  rivulet  in  Nipper's  Hole,  a  shallow  hollow  which 
branches  from  Spriddle  Combe  and  runs  up  under  Maiden  Hill.  From, 
this  point  he  will  bear  a  trifle  S.  of  S.E.  and  pass  over  Conies  Down  to 
the  Lich  Path  (T.  18),  rather  over  \  m.  distant.  Crossing  this  old 
track  he  will  make  his  way  for  another  mile  to  the  Cowsic,  which  he 
will  strike  below  Broad  Hole,  i  m.  Two  Bridges  is  about  2|  m.  distant, 
the  way  thither  being  described  in  Ex.  5. 

Belstone  to  Princetown.  (A)  Via  Broad  Amicombe  Hole.  This 
is  the  reverse  of  the  branch  described  in  R.  3.  To  the  moor  gate  at 
Watchet  Hill,  and  thence  by  the  road  S.W.  to  Crovenor  Steps.  Cross 
the  East  Ockment  and  follow  the  Blackaven  to  its  source.  Strike 
S.S.W.  to  Brim  Brook  Head,  and  trace  that  stream  to  the  Ockment 
at  Kneeset  Nose.  Here  that  river  must  be  crossed  and  followed 
•downward  for  %  m.  to  the  sharp  bend  as  described  above.  (Another 
way  is  by  Taw  Head  and  Cranmere,  C.R.  10,  C.R.  i). 

(B)  Via  Two  Bridges.  Taw  Head  as  in  C.  R.  10.  Then  strike 
due  S.  over  the  fen,  the  plateau  on  the  edge  of  which  Cranmere  Pool 
is  situated  being  R.  and  Newtake  (Ex.  19,  Extension)  on  the  L.,  to 
East  Dart  Head,  the  distance  being  under  £  m.  Thence  as  in  C.  R.  2. 

[Should  the  visitor  desire  to  take  in  Cut  Hill  on  his  journey,  he 
•will  leave  Dart  Head  I,,  and  strike  S.W.  by  S.  for  |  m.  up  the  side  of 
Black  Hill,  and  then  turn  S.  by  W.  The  summit  of  Cut  Hill  is  now 
about  i£  m.  distant,  the  way  lying  over  Flatters,  where  the  ground 
is  seamed  with  narrow  crevices.  An  easier  way  is  to  follow  the  Dart 
for  about  i£  m.  from  its  source,  when  the  summit  of  the  hill  will  bear 
about  W.S.W.,  and  then  to  make  for  a  point  a  little  to  the  R.  of  it, 
crossing  the  Cut  Hill  stream,  here  a  tiny  rivulet  trickling  through  the 
peat,  on  the  way  ;  on  reaching  the  top  of  the  ridge  bear  I,,  and  make 
straight  for  the  summit.  For  a  notice  of  the  hill  see  Ex.  1 1 ,  Extension, 
where  also  routes  to  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges  are  given.] 

R.  30.— To  Lydford  and  Tavistock,  S.W.  by  S. 

(A)  BY  ROAD.  (See  road  distances).  To  the  fork  2^  m.  from  the 
town  ;  take  R.  branch  and  pass  under  the  railway  bridge  to  the  stone 
cross  on  the  L-  of  the  way  (S.  Ex.  34)  ;  Prewley  Moor,  Sourton,  Lake, 
Southerly,  Fox  and  Hounds.  (Turn  R.  for  Bridestowe  Station), 


io6 


Route  30.    Okehampton  to  Tavistock. 


Vale  Down,  Dartmoor  Inn.  (Turn  R.  for  Lydford).  Skit  Bridge, 
Black  Down,  Lane  Head,  Wringworthy  Hill,  Tavistock.  16  m. 
Reverse,  R.  16  and  9  A. 

[Objects  :  Ex.  1 5  to  9.] 

(B)  To  TAVISTOCK  BY  WAY  OF  THE  MOOR.  Dinger  Plain,  Broad 
Amicombe  Hole,  Tavy  Hole,  Walkham  Head,  Sandy  Ford,  Peter  Tavy, 
1 8  m.  Reverse,  R.  9  B. 

[Objects:  Ex.  15,  14,  10,  8.] 

The  route  to  Walkham  Head  is  described  in  R.  29.  When  the 
rambler  reaches  the  peat  track  (T.  1 6)  on  the  east  side  of  the  Walkham, 
he  will  follow  it  down  to  the  first  ford,  immediately  below  Timber 
Bridge  (Ex.  10).  Here  the  stream  is  crossed,  and  the  track  followed  up 
the  rising  ground  above  the  western  bank,  and  through  the  cut  between 
Stooky  Moor  and  Green  Hill  on  the  R.,  and  Cocks'  Hill  on  the  L.  It 
soon  afterwards  bends  L.  (Ex.  8,  Extension),  and  the  rambler  following 
it  will  have  the  enclosures  above  Wapsworthy  (Ex.  8,  Extension)  on 
his  R.  He  will  then  pass  on  by  the  Long  Stone  and  Stephens'  Grave, 
as  described  in  Ex.  8,  to  Twyste  Lane,  on  making  his  way  through 
which  his  green  track  will  lead  him  to  the  Godsworthy  road.  Instruc- 
tions are  given  in  the  excursion  named  for  reaching  Peter  Tavy  from 
this  point,  and  the  road  over  Harford  Bridge  (see  Road  Distances)  is 
followed  to  Tavistock. 

The  rambler  from  Belstone  will  strike  this  route  at  Kneeset  No.<e. 
His  first  point  will  be  Crovenor  Steps  (T.  37),  and  he  will  then  follow 
the  Blackaven  to  its  source.  Thence  S.  by  W.  for  -i-  m.  to  the  head 
of  Brim  Brook,  which  he  will  trace  down  to  its  confluence  with  the 
West  Ockment  at  the  Nose. 


Belstone  Tor. 


FROM   CROVENOR   STEPS,   BOOKING   E. 


C.  R.  8,  9.      OKEHAMPTON   TO   CRANMERE.  107 


ROUTES  TO  CRANMERE. 

C.  R.  8.— From  OKEHAMPTON  (A)  via  West  Ockment  Valley, 
7|  m.  Fishcombe  Head  and  Black  Tor  as  in  S.  Ex.  36.  Keep  the  tor 
R.  Then  strike  S.E.  by  S.  above  Black  Tor  Copse,  drawing  near 
Sandy  Ford  on  the  Ockment,  i  m.  from  the  tor,  but  not  descending  to 
it.  Thence  over  Lints  Tor,  keeping  the  rocks  R.,  to  Kneeset  Nose, 
where  Brim  Brook  falls  into  the  river.  Cranmere  is  i£  m.  S.E.  by  S. 
of  this,  but  that  course  must  not  be  followed,  as  it  would  lead  the 
rambler  through  boggy  ground.  Strike  due  E.  for  \  m.,  taking  care 
not  to  bear  too  much  I,.,  when  the  Ockment  will  again  be  met.  The 
little  lateral  valley  L.  at  this  point,  in  which  there  are  streaming 
remains,  is  Vergyland  Combe.  This  runs  up  northward,  and  must  be 
crossed  near  its  foot,  and  the  Ockment  followed  to  its  source.  One 
little  feeder  falls  into  it  above  the  combe.  Here  the  Ockment  is  the 
L.  branch.  As  already  stated  Cranmere  is  close  to  the  head  of  the 
stream. 

(B)  via  Dinger,  7  m.  Moor  Gate  ;  Creaber's  Hole  ;  as  in  Ex.  15. 
Thence  by  the  L,.  track  over  Dinger  Plain  southward  (T.  34).  I^eave 
Dinger  Tor  R.  (£  m.  S.E.  by  S.  of  High  Willes),  and  descend  to  Brim 
Brook,  which  will  be  struck  near  its  source.  Thence  the  way  is  S.E. 
across  the  side  of  Ockment  Hill  to  the  head  of  Vergyland  Combe, 
about  \  m.  (see  A).  On  leaving  Brim  Brook  keep  a  little  L.,  the  lower 
ground  R.  being  bad  around  its  source.  If  the  S.E.  line  is  followed 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  reaching  the  combe.  On  crossing  the 
latter  bear  a  little  R.,  and  the  Ockment  will  soon  be  struck  (see  end  of  A). 

C.  R.  g.—From  OKEHAMPTON  via  New  Bridge,  6-J-  m.  Sum- 
mit of  Ockment  Hill,  as  in  Ex.  16  and  T.  35.  From  this  point,  which 
is  about  £  m.  S.  of  the  old  wall  (Ex.  16)  the  head  of  Vergyland  Combe 
is  -J-  m.  S.W.  (C.  R.  8,  a,  b).  Cranmere  is  i  £  m.  due  S.  There  is  some 
broken  ground  between,  and  it  is  not  advisable  to  pursue  a  direct 
course.  The  rambler  should  bear  a  little  R.  in  order  to  strike  the 
Ockment  about  £  m.  below  the  pool  (see  end  of  C.  R.  8a). 

Another  way  from  the  summit  of  Ockment  Hill  is  to  bear  S.E.  to 
the  Taw,  but  it  is  further.  C.R.  10. 

The  return  route  to  Okehampton  by  way  of  New  Bridge  forms 
the  latter  part  of  R.  63.  The  rambler  will  follow  the  Ockment  down- 
ward for  about  -J-  m.,  and  then  strike  N.  to  the  New  Bridge  track,  i  m. 
(T.  35).  This  he  will  follow  to  the  bridge,  and  thence  to  the  town  as  in 
Ex.  14,  15.  If  he  desires  to  go  by  way  of  Dinger  he  will  strike  N.W. 
by  N.  when  £  m.  down  the  Ockment,  and  so  onward  across  Vergyland 
Combe  to  Brim  Brook,  taking  Willes  for  his  guide.  When  the  weather 
is  clear  the  track  he  is  making  for  near  Dinger  Tor  can  be  seen  from  the 
pool.  On  reaching  this  (T.  34)  he  will  turn  into  it  R.  and  follow  it  to 
Moor  Gate  and  the  town. 


io8 


C.  R.  10,  11.    Belstone  to  Cranmere. 

Cut  Hill.  Black  Ridge. 


FROM  SOUTHERN  SI.OPE  OF  OCKMENT  HII,!,,  ABOUT  £  M.  S.E.  OF  SUBMIT 


C.  R.  10.  —  From  BELSTONE  via  the  Taw,  s|  m.  The  way  lies 
by  Watchet  Hill  to  Oke  Tor,  2^  m.,  and  thence  to  Knock  Mine,  i  m., 
as  in  Ex.  17.  From  that  point  the  river  is  followed  to  its  source,  from 
which  Cranmere  is  less  than  \  m.  distant  W.  by  S.  The  ground  between 
the  head  of  the  stream  and  "the  pool  is  rather  spongy,  but  will  present 
no  difficulties.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  keep  too  much  to  the  L.  or 
the  pool  may  be  missed.  It  is  better  to  steer  W.,  which  course,  if  it 
does  not  bring  the  rambler  to  his  goal,  will  at  all  events  bring  him  to 
the  Ockment  —  here  a  tiny  rivulet  —  which  he  will  follow  up  to  the 
pool. 

The  return  to  Belstone  forms  the  latter  part  of  R.  63.  Strike 
E.N.E.  or  N.E.  from  the  pool,  and  in  £  m.  the  Taw  will  be  seen  R. 
Trace  it  down  to  Knock  Mine  Bridge,  then  mount  the  L.  bank  and 
follow  the  track  by  Oke  Tor  along  the  ridge  to  Watchet  Hill  (Ex.  17). 

A  camp  road  runs  up  W.  of  the  Taw,  and  crosses  it  near  its  head. 

From  STICKLEPATH  the  route  is  first  to  Belstone;  thence 
C.  R.  10.  Or  C.  R.  ii  may  be  followed,  the  Peat  Road  being  reached 
by  way  of  Cosdon.  A  path  runs  up  through  the  wood  from  near 
Sticklepath  Bridge  to  the  common  (see  ante,  Cosdon,  B).  From  the 
summit  of  Cosdon  keep  S.  till  the  track  is  struck. 

C.  R.  ii.—  From  SOUTH  ZEAL,  6  m.,  and  THROWLEIGH, 
6  m.  The  Peat  Road  (T.  41  )  is  followed  past  Raybarrow  Pool  to  the 
stone  circle,  where  visitors  from  Throwleigh  join  it,  making  their  way 
thither  by  the  track  from  Clannaborough  Down  to  the  E.  side  of  Ray- 
barrow  Pool  (T.  42),  or  by  Shilstone,  when  \  m.  will  be  saved.  From 
the  circle  the  track  goes  on  below  Wild  Tor  Ridge  L.  to  Bow  Combe, 
at  the  head  of  which  is  Bow  Combe  Hill,  L.  Cross  Steeperton  Brook 
to  Ockside  Hill,  on  which  are  some  cairns  and  a  small  pool.  Strike 
over  this  ridge  S.W.  to  the  Taw,  and  follow  it  to  its  head.  Thence  as 
in  C.  R.  10. 

The  return  to  the  Taw  is  also  as  in  C.  R.  10.  Follow  it  down  a 
little  way,  and  then  strike  N.E.  into  the  track. 


Index. 


Allaclauns 17 

Amicombe  Hill  . .       45,  48,  57 

Annie  Pinkham's  Men       . .  17 

Anthony  Stile 70 

Anns  Tor,  49  ;  Rings       . .  49 

Ashbury  Tor       95 

Ashburys,  The 17 

B 

Bagga  Tor  ..      ..        18,  33,  34 

Ball  Hill      63 

Barrett's  Bridge         ..      ..  17 

Barton's  Hill,  The     . .      63,  65 

Battishill  Down 49 

Beardon,  Higher,  31  ;  Lower,  31 
Belstone.8 1 ;  Cleave.8 1 ;  Range,82 

Berry  Down        91 

Birchy  Lake        . .       84,  85,  87 
Black      Down      (Mary     Tavy), 

17  et  seq  ;  24. 

Black  Down  (Okehampton),  66 

Black  Hill 45 

Black  Lane         . .      . .      34,  36 

Black  Lion  Down      . .      . .  16 

Black  Ridge        44 

Black  Tor  (Ockment)       67,  94 

Black  Tor  Copse . .      . .      50,  67 

Blackaton  Brook        . .      . .  89 

Blackaton  Hole          . .      . .  90 

Blackaven,  The            77,  80,  94 

Blowing  Stone 3 

Bow  Combe        108 

Bra  Tor       46,  54 

Branscombe's  Loaf    . .      52,  54 

Brent  Tor   . .      . .       22,  24,  53 

Bridges,  William        . .      . .  64 

Brim  Brook        . .    68,  104,  107 

Broad  Amicombe  Hole      . .  68 

Brook  Hill 84 

Brook's  Head     . .      . .     28,  34 

Buddla  Lane       16 

Bude  Lane                   . .      . .  65 

Burn  Valley        21 

Burrow  Cleave 66 

Buttern  Down,  90  ;  Hill  90 


Cataloo  Steps 37 

Celtic  Names  38 

Cemetery,  The  . .  86,  88,  98 
Chapel  Ford,  64  ;  Lands  . .  64 

Chat  Tor 46 

Cheriton  Combe  86,  89,  97 

Cholwell  Brook 17 

Church  Lane  (Tavy) . .  1 3,  56 
Clannaborough  Copse,  98  ; 

Down,  83,  88,  90  ;  Wood,  98 

Cleave  Tor  65; 

Cocks'  Hill  . .  . .  34,  106 
Cocks'  Tor  Hill  . .  . .  8,  9,  24. 

Combe  Down  49- 

Combeshead  Farm  .  .  . .  65 
Corn  Hole,  55,  67  ;  Ridge. .  52 
Cosdon,  . .  . .  82,  85  et  seq. 
Cranmere  Pool  . .  28,  57,  107 

Creaber's  Hole 70 

Creber  Pound 91 

Crocker's  Pits  ..  ..  52,  68 
Crovenor  Steps  . .  76,  80,  94 

Cudlipp  Town 12 

Curtory  Glitters  . .  77,  94 
Cut  Combe,  45  ;  Hill,  42,  44, 

105  ;  Lane,  45. 


D 

Dartmoor  Inn  (Lydford), 

47- 

Dartmoor  Inn  (Merivale) 
Deadlake  Well    ..      . . 
Devil's  Point 
Dick's  Well         . . 
Dinger  Plain       . .        72, 

Dishcombe 

Doe  Tor,  46  ;  Brook 
Down  Lane 

Dry  Arch 

Ducky  Pool 
Dunnagoat  Tors,  The 


25,  46, 

26 
10 

••  39 
. .  47 
80,  94 
. .  97 
..  46 
31,  32 
..  98 
..  85 
. .  47 


Eagle  Rock,  The  (Taw)  . .     83 
East  Bridge        6$ 


no 


INDEX. 


East  Down 
East  Hill  . 
East  Tor  . 
Ensworthy, 


Hill 


Fatherf  ord 
Firestone  Ley     . . 
Fishcombe  Water 
Fitz's  Well  (Oke) 
Flatters 


63 
63 
52 
90 


..  65 
..  97 
..  66 
63,  69 
44,  105 


Flock  o'  Sheep 84 

Frenchmen's  Grave,  The..      33 
Fur  Tor,  28,  41,  104 ;  Wood,  42 

Ford 88 

Forder  Brook     ..     90,  91,  101 
Forsland  Ledge  50,  68,  74 

Forstall  Cross 32 

Fox  and  Hounds  Hotel,  52,  58 
Foxhole        46 


Gallaven  Ford 83 

Ger  Tor       39,    4° 

Gibbet  Hill,  19  et  seq.        . .  24 

Gidleigh       90 

Gooseford 98 

•Goosey  Creep      17 

Green  Gert          40 

Green  Hill  (Lich  Path),  34,  106 

Green  Tor,  47  ;  Water     . .  47 

•Gren  Tor 50 

H 

Hall  Farm 32 

Halstock,    64,    80  ;   Chapel,   64, 

95  ;  Cleave,  95  ;  Down,  64, 

80  ;  Farm,  80  ;  Pound,  80  ; 

Wood,  64. 
Hangingstone  Hill     . .     82,    83 

Hare  Tor 38,    53 

Harford  Bridge  (Tavy)  . .  16 
Hart  Tor  (Okehampton),  76 ; 

Hill,  78. 
Hawks'  Hollow          . .      . .     67 

Heather  Knoll 95 

Henscott  Plantations  32,  38 
Herring  Arms,  The  . .  21,  57 

High  Down         46 

High  Willes  . .  50,  68,  72 
Highbury  Bridge  . .  . .  101 
Higher  Bowden  Steps,  66,  93 
Higher  Tor  82 


Hill  Bridge          ..13,  24,  36,  53 

Holditch       17 

Homerton  Hill 66 

Horndon  Down  Bridge,   18,   53 

Hound  Tor          83 

Huckworthy  Common       . .      27 

Hunt  Tor 48,    50 

Hut,  The 50 


Important  Points          i,  30,  60 

Ina's  Combe        16 

Inscribed  Stones  81,  92,  95 
Irishman's  Wall  . .  77,  82 
Irishmen's  House  . .  . .  88 

Iron  Gate 21 

Iron  Gates 52,    67 

Island  of  Rocks,  54,  67,  93 
Ivy  Tor  Water  . .  . .  84,  87 

Jackman's  Bottom  . .  . .  68 
Jockey  Down's  House  25,  92 

K 

Kelly's  Corner 80 

Kennon  Hill       . .       83,  89,  90 

Ker  Beam 46 

Kes  Tor       102 

King  Way,  The  . .        32,  49,  52 

Kingsett  Down 17 

Kitty  Tor 48 

Kneeset  Foot,  68  ;  Great,  58,  68  ; 

Little,  42  ;  Nose,  68  ;  Pan, 

58. 

Knock  Mine  Bridge  . .  83 
Knoll 40 


Lady  Well  . . 
Lake,  53  ;  Down 
Lane  End    . ,      . . 
Lane  Head 
Langstone  Circle 


..  81 

49,  53 

1 6,  39 

..  16 

10,  24 


Lich  Path,  The,   10,   n,  26,  31 

Limsboro 1 8 

Linch  Tor 34 

Links  Tor,   Great,  47,  48,   54 ; 

Little,  48. 

Lints  Tor,  68  ;  Brook       . .  69 

Longbetor 33 

Longstone  Hill 66 

Lord  Mayor's  Castle         . .  40 


INDEX. 


I II 


Lower  Town       53 

Lyd,  The,  49  ;  Head,  50  ;  Valley 
of,  46,  54. 

Lydda  Bridge 50 

Lydford,  25,  30,  37  ;  Gorge,  30 

M 
Maiden  Hill         .....      . .    105 

Manor  Hotel  (Lydford),  30,  32 
:Mary  Tavy  ;  14  ;  Clam,  14,  24 
Maunder's  Brake  ..  ..  17 

Meads,  The         40 

Meldon     Gorge,     50,     66,     93  ; 

Viaduct,  66. 
Merivale    Antiquities,     23    (See 

Part  I.) 
Metheral  Hill,  82  ;  Hole  . .      83 

Middle  Hill 78,    82 

Mil  Tor,  East,  78  ;  West,  68,  69, 

75,  94- 
Mis  Tor,  7  (See  Part  I.) 

Moon's  Cross       97 

Moor  Brook  . .  63,  64,  70 
Moor  Gate  (Oke)  69,  70,  76 
Moortown  (Gidleigh)  . .  101 
Moortown  (Whitchurch)  . .  3,  4 
Mount  Tavy  3,  8 


N 

Nat  Tor       39 

New  Bridge  (Blackaven),  76,  77 
..  82,  95 
••  76,  77 
. .  • •  34 


Nine  Maidens 
New  Bridge 
Ninny  Lake 
Nipper's  Hole 


105 


Noddon,     49,     54  ;     Ford,     49  ; 
Gate,  49. 

O 

Ockment,   East,   78  ;   West,  66, 

et  seq. 
Ockment  Farm,  East        . .     80 

Ockment  Hill 78 

Ockside  Hill        82 

Okehampton,  61,  63  ;  Camp,  62  ; 

Chase,  75  ;  Park,  66. 
Oxenham 96 


Payne's  Bridge  ..      ..     91,    97 
Peter  Tavy,  13,  14;  Combe,  12, 

24. 
Pinswell        45 


Pixies'  Parlour 
Plaster  Down 
Prewley  Moor 
Prospect  Place 
Put  Tor 
Pudhanger  .  . 
Putty  Moor 


.  .  90 

3.  23 

••  53 

88,  89 

4,  23 
70,  76 
..  36 


R 


Rabbits'  Holt 88 

Ramsleigh  Mine  . .  . .  88 
Rattle  Brook  .  .  . .  40,  46 
Rattle  Brook  Hill  . .  . .  47 
Raybarrow  Pool  83,  89,  99 
Red  Lake,  Homer,  40  ;  Outer,  40 

Redaven,  The 66 

Redford        18,    32 

Rinr  o'  Bells  . .  . .  18,  32 
Risdon,  Tristram  . .  . .  37 

Rithy  Pits 78 

Rival  Tor 90 

Rogues'  Roost 4 

Roose  Tor 9,    10 

Row  Tor  (Oke),  68,  94  ;  Combe, 

76. 
Ruelake  Pit        90 


Sampford  Spiney  . .  . .  6 
Sandy  Ford  (Amicombe) .  .  41 
Sandy  Ford  (W.  Ockment)  <o 

68. 

Sandy  Ford  (Walkham),  26,  28 
Sandy  Hole.  26  (See  Part  I.) 
Scad,  The  (Rattle  Brook). .  46 

Scorhill  Down 101 

Setters          12 

Sharp  Tor  (Tavy)      . .      . .      39 

Shilstone  Hill 88 

Shilstone  Tor  (W.  Ockment),  54 
Shilstone  Tor  (Throwleigh),  91 

Shilley  Pool        92 

Shovel     Down,     90,     102     (See 

Part  III.) 
Skit,    The    (E.    Ockment),    78  ; 

Bottom,  78. 

Skit  Bridge  (Lyd),  25  ;  Lane,  46 
Slipper  Stones,  The,  50,  51,  68 
Small  Brook  ..  .".  82,  84 
Smeardon  Down  . .  .  .  12 

Snap 18,    32 

South    Tawton,     87,     88,     96  ; 

Common,  92. 


112 


INDEX. 


South  Zeal  . .  . .  96,  97 
Sourton,  52  ;  Common,  52,  93  ; 

Down,  92  ;  Tors,  52,  54. 
Soussons     Common,          . .    103 
Southerly  Down         . .      . .     49 
Spriddle  Combe          . .      . .    105 

Square  Seat        2 

Standon  Farm,  33  ;  Steps  . .  36 
Standon  Hill,  36  ;  Houses. .  36 
Staple  Tors,  The  . .  9,  23 
Steeperton  Brook,  82  ;  Gorge, 

82  ;  Hill,  83,  84  ;  Tor,  82. 
Stephen's  Grave         ..      n,    12 
Sticklepath,  81  ;  Bridge  ..     89 
Stinka  Tor          . .       48,  50,  68 

Stone  Ford          78 

Stookey  Moor     . .      . .   34,    106 


Take-Off  Stone  .  .      . .     25,    31 

Tavistock 2 

Tavy   Cleave,    18,    24,    39,   40; 

Tors,  36,  39. 

Tavy  Hole,  34,   104  ;  Stone,  28 
Taw,     The,     81  ;     Marsh,     84; 

Plain,  82,  84. 
Teign  Clapper,  101  (see  Part  III.) 

Tiger's  Marsh 50 

Throwleigh,    98  ;    Common,    89, 

90,  91  ;  Cross  at,  98. 

Tongue  End       65 

Torwood  Mine 53 

Twyste  Lane       12 

V 

Vale  Down          49 

Vellake  Corner 67 

Vergyland  Combe      . .   78,    107 

Vigo  Bridge        3 

Vixen  Tor 7,    23 

W 

Walkham  Head,   II,  24,  28,  34 
Wapsworthy,    12,    24,    28,    33 ; 

Wells,  39. 
Ward  Bridge       6 


Warren    House    Inn,    102    (See 
Part  III.) 

Warren's  Cross 3 

Was  Tor      53 

Watchet  Hill      81 

Water  Hill  102 

Watern  Oke        . .       40,  45,  48 

Watervale 25,    32 

Wed  I<ake  . .      . »      . .      1 1 

Week,    East,    98  ;   Middle,    98  ; 

North,  96 ;  West,  97. 
West  Cleave,  Belstone      . .     95 

Wheal  Betsy       17 

Wheal  Friendship  .  .  . .  17 
Wheal  Mary  Emma  Steps. .  57 
Whiddon  Down  . .  . .  98 
Whitchurch  Down,  2,  23  ;  Cross 
on,  3. 

White  Barrow 34 

White  Bird,  The         . .      . .     96 
White  Hill  (Peter  Tavy),  32,  38 
White  Hill  (S.  Tawton)  . .      82 
White  Moor  Bottom,  90  ;  Circle, 
84,    89,    101  ;    Marsh,    90 ; 
Mead,    83  ;   Stone,    83,    89, 
90,  99  ;  Pits,  83. 
White   for   (Peter  Tavy),    n  ; 
Menhir.   1 1 . 

Wild  Tor 83 

William  of  Worcester  . .  61 
Willsworthy,  17,  36  ;  Bounds,  31 
Windy  Post  . .  . .  8,  23 

Winter  Tor 82 

Withycombe  Bottom        . .      55 

Woodcock  Hill 48 

Wyke  Family,  The    . .      . .     97 


Yard  Gate 18 

Yellowmead  Farm  (Black  Down) 

36. 
Yes  Tor       . .      . .       68,  70,  71 


Zeal  Head  Cross 
Zoar  Down 


97 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR: 

R  Topographical  Description 
of  the  Forest  and  Commons 


BY 

WILLIAM    CROSSING, 

AUTHOR   OF 

The  Ancient  Stone  Crosses  of  Dartmoor  and  Its  Borderland,  Amid  Devonia's  Alpi 

Tales  of  the  Dartmoor  Pixies,  Qems  in  a  Granite  Setting,  A  Hundred 

Year*  on  Dartmoor,  Folk  Rhymes  of  Devon, 

From  a  Dartmoor  Cot,  G>c. 


WITH     MAPS    AND    SKETCHES. 

A  NEW  EDITION   IN  FIVE  PARTS. 


PART   III. 

Chagford,  Moreton,  Lustleigh,  and 
Bovey  Tracey  Districts. 


4  Rocks,  hills,  and  sky  in  sleep  lethean  bound, 
Nor  one  discordant  voice  obtruding  round." 

JOSEPH  COTTLB. 


fiieter : 

A.   WHEATON  &   Co.,  Ltd.,  Booksellers  and  Stationers, 
223   High  Street. 


OUT  OF  THE  LAND  OF  GORSE  AND  HEATHER 

TO 

THE   RIGHT   WORSHIPFUL 

THE  MAYOR   AND   MAYORESS   OF   PLYMOUTH, 
A.   EDMUND   SPENDER,   B.A., 

AND 

HELEN   FRANCES  SPENDER, 
GREETING. 


PREFACE  TO  THIRD  EDITION. 


THE  favourable  reception  accorded  to  the  former  editions  of  this  Guide 
has  rendered  a  further  issue  necessary.  In  this  some  considerable 
alterations  in  the  arrangement  have  been  made.  While  a  description 
of  Dartmoor  in  one  volume  had  much  to  recommend  it,  the  plan  was 
also  not  without  its  disadvantages.  The  ground  covered  being 
extensive  it  was  impossible  to  produce  such  a  book  as  the  author 
considered  the  subject  demanded  without  its  becoming  rather  bulky, 
and  this  was  inconvenient  from  the  tourist's  point  of  view.  It  is  now 
divided  into  five  parts,  but  there  has  been  no  abridgement  of  matter. 
The  few  alterations  in  the  text  are  chiefly  of  the  nature  of  additions 
which  were  needed  in  order  to  bring  the  book  up  to  date. 

The  author  is  much  gratified  at  knowing  that  the  Guide  has  been 
found  helpful  by  the  tourist  in  the  past,  and  ventures  to  believe  that 
in  its  present  form  it  will  prove  of  still  greater  value  in  the  future. 

BI.ACK  DOWN,  DARTMOOR, 
June,  1914. 


vl. 


DARTMOOR   GUIDE. 


EXETER. 


POPLE'S 


NEW    LONDON    HOTEL 

(Visited  by  their  Majesties  The  King  and  Queen,  King  Edward  VII. 
and  Queen  Victoria.) 

Officially    appointed    by    the    "  Royal    Automobile    Club," 
and   the    "Automobile   Association." 


A  charming  i8th  Century  Hotel,  with  every  modern  comfort 
and  luxury.  Beautiful  covered  Courtyard  as  Lounge.  Near  the 
Cathedral  and  Railway  Stations.  Electric  Light.  Night  Porter. 

SPLENDID    MOTOR    GARAGE 

Adjoining  the  Hotel,  with   Lock-up   Private   Boxes  and 
Inspection   Pits. 

Telegrams:  "  Pople,  Exeter."         Telephone:  146,  Exeter. 

R.     POPLE,    Proprietor. 


Houses 


Let 

Sold 

Built 

Repaired 

Painted 

Decorated. 


For  anything  to  do 
with  Houses  or 
Building 
Land  in 


The 


Howard, 

Contractor 
and  House  Agent 

ROCKVALE,  YELVERTON. 


'Phone  ia. 


PREFACE. 


DURING  recent  years  the  claims  of  Dartmoor  as  a  holiday  and  health 
resort  have  become  widely  recognized.  Those  to  whom  an  old  world 
region  is  an  attraction  will  find  in  it  a  field  of  surpassing  interest.  No 
district  in  England  of  similiar  extent  is  so  rich  in  pre-historic  remains, 
and  in  none  does  Nature  wear  a  wilder  aspect. 

To  this  elevated  tract  of  land  no  guide  book,  in  the  true  sense  of 
the  term,  has  hitherto  appeared.  It  has,  of  course,  been  noticed  in 
county  guides,  and  there  are  also  topographical  works  and  handbooks 
descriptive  of  it,  but  in  the  former  the  accounts  are  necessarily  super- 
ficial, while  in  the  latter  the  visitor  is  not  given  any  directions  for 
finding  his  way  over  those  parts  of  the  waste  remote  from  roads.  To 
enable  him  to  learn  what  Dartmoor  really  is  he  needs  something  beyond 
notices  of  the  more  celebrated,  because  more  readily  accessible,  places 
and  objects  of  interest.  He  should  be  led  from  the  beaten  track,  and 
wander  among  the  hills  where  signs  of  man's  occupancy  are  not,  where 
silence  broods  over  the  sea  of  fen,  and  the  pasture  grounds  of  the 
cattle  that  range  at  will  are  as  they  were  when  the  Norman  herdsman, 
drove  his  beasts  there ;  or  he  should  stray  into  solitary  combes 
encumbered  with  the  ruined  huts  and  fallen  rock-pillars  of  the  people 
who  once  made  this  wild  land  their  home.  As  my  acquaintance  with 
Dartmoor  is  a  life-long  one,  and  as  it  has  been  with  me  a  subject  of 
study  and  of  systematic  investigation  during  many  years,  it  is  with 
some  degree  of  confidence  that  I  take  upon  myself  the  task  of  con- 
ducting the  visitor  over  it,  and  leading  him  into  its  remoter  parts. 

This  book  is  the  first  to  give  a  complete  topographical  description 
of  Dartmoor,  and  the  reader  may  depend  upon  its  being  correct.  Its 
aim  is  to  furnish  the  visitor  with  an  account  of  all  that  is  to  be  found 
on  the  moor  worthy  of  note,  and  to  acquaint  him  with  the  best  means 
of  reaching  the  various  objects  from  any  point.  The  districts  into 
which  the  moor  has  been  divided  are  described  in  the  excursions,  and 


viii.  PREFACE. 

at  the  end  of  these  are  given  routes  to  each  of  the  other  districts.  By 
this  arrangement  the  moor  is  crossed  in  every  conceivable  direction, 
so  that  it  is  not  possible  to  find  any  part  of  it  that  is  not  noticed  some- 
where in  the  book.  For  the  sake  of  convenience  the  terms  used  in 
connection  with  the  forest  and  commons  are  given,  with  their  mean- 
ings, in  glossarial  form,  some  archaeological  terms  being  also  included. 

I  desire  to  express  my  thanks  to  Mr.  PHIUP  GUY  STEVENS,  of 
Princetown,  for  the  series  of  pen-and-ink  sketches  he  has  been  at  such 
pains  to  furnish,  and  which  were  executed  on  the  spot.  It  is  hoped 
they  will  be  found  useful  as  a  means  of  helping  the  visitor  to  identify 
the  principal  tors  and  hills. 

If  I  gain  the  confidence  of  the  rambler  who  uses  this  book  my 
satisfaction  will  be  complete.  There  is  some  reason  for  me  to  hope 
that  I  shall  do  so,  as  I  venture  to  believe  that  he  will  discover  ere  we 
have  gone  far  on  our  wanderings  together  that  I  am  really  and  truly  a 
Dartmoor  man. 


CONTENTS. 
PART  III. 

PAGE 

Road  Distances  to  Chagford  and  Moreton      i 

,,             ,,            Bovey  Tracey 61 

Important  Points  near  Chagford       2 

„                 ,,               Bovey          62 

Chagford  to  Moreton,  Gidleigh,  Teigncombe,  Metheral,  Moor  Gate, 

and  Beetor  Cross 2 

Moreton  to  Chagford,  Metheral,  and  Moor  Gate 2 

Excursion  19.     From  Chagford  and  Moreton         5 

Extension  to  Ockment  Hill  and  Newtake       . .      . .  8 

Excursion  20.     From  Chagford  and  Moreton          1 1 

21  „                     ,,           16 

22  ,,                     „          20 

Shorter  Excursions.             ,,                     ,,           48  to  63         ....  26 

The  Banks  of  the  Teign 39 

Shorter  Excursions  64  to  70       40 

Chagford  and  Moreton  to  Grim's  Pound 34 

North  Bovey  to  Grim's  Pound          38 

Route  3 1 .     Chagford  and  Moreton  to   Bovey  Tracey 48 

„       32.             ,,             ,,             „           Ashburton         48 

»        33-             i,             >,             ,,            Brent  (via  Hexworthy),  49,  55 

,,             ,,             „           Ivybridge  (do.)        . .      . .  50 

,.             ,,             „           Cornwood  (do.)        ..      ..  51 

,,       34.             ,,             ,.             ,,           Plympton  and  Shaugh  . .  52 

„        35.             ,,             ,,             ,,            Princetown        53 

36.             „             „             „           Tavistock          53 

37-             >,             .,             „           Lydford 54 

,.       38.             „             ,,             „           Okehampton 54 


z.  CONTENTS.     PART   III. 

PAGE 

Routes  to  Cranmere  from  Chagford  and  Gidleigh 58 

,,                 ,,             Moreton  and  North  Bovey 60 

Cranmere  to  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges 60 

Hameldon  and  Widecombe 63 

Excursion  23.     From  Bovey,  Lustleigh,  and  Ilsington         . .      . .  69 

24.  „                 „                 „                 , 76 

25.  „             ,                 ......  79 

Shorter  Excursions  71  to  82      82 

Do.     from  Widecombe,  83  to  87       95 

Route  39.     Bovey  Tracey  to  Ashburton         101 

,,       40.         ,,             ,,              Brent  and  Ivybridge      101 

,,       41.         ,,             ,,             Plympton  and  Shaugh 101 

,,       42.         „             ,,              Princetown        101 

,,       43.         ,,             ,,              Tavistock          104 

„       44.         „            ,,             Lydford 104 

„       45.         ,,             „              Okehampton  and  Belstone    ..      ..  106 

,,       46.         „             ,,             Moreton  and  Chagford 107 


DARTMOOR   GUIDE.  zi. 


MAPS. 

Sketch  Map  of  the  Moor facing  ]page  i 

Surroundings  of  Cranmere 56 

ONE     INCH     MAPS. 

9.     Chagford  and  Moreton  District         . .      . .             facing  page  6 

10.  Chagford  and  Post  Bridge  District          . .                  „         ,,  20 

11.  Bovey  Tracey  District        70 


The  numbers  of  the  Routes  and  Excursions  as  given  in  the  first 
edition  of  the  Guide  are  retained  throughout.  T.  signifies  Track ; 
Ex.  or  S.  Ex.,  Excursion  or  Shorter  Excursion  ;  R.,  Route  ;  and  C.  R., 
Cranmere  Route.  The  entire  length  of  each  Excursion  is  given ; 
Route  distances  are  given  one  way  only. 


zii.  DARTMOOR   GUIDE. 


SIDMOUTH    (Devon). 

The 


Fortfield    Hotel. 

Greatly  Enlarged.        New  Wings. 
Electric  Light  Throughout  Lifts  to  all  Floors. 


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^  the  South  Coast.  Unequalled  posi- 
tion. Situated  in  its  own  charming 
Grounds.  Full  South  and  facing  sea; 
having  two  full-sized  Croquet  Lawns. 
Handsomely  furnished  by  Maple  &  Co. 
Complete  with  every  luxury  and  con- 
venience. Near  to  Brine  Baths  and 
convenient  to  Golf  Links.  Sanitary 
arrangements  perfect.  Large  and  com- 
modious bedrooms.  Handsome  private 
Suites  of  Apartments,  either  on  ground 
floor,  first  or  second  floors,  with  Bath- 
rooms and  Lavatories.  Corridors  carefully 
heated.  Spacious  Public  Rooms. 
Billiards.  High-class  Cuisine.  Selected 
Wines.  Moderate  and  inclusive  terms. 


Telephone  -r     -/r  i-       •  n          • 

NO.  39.  *  anfr  on  application  to  Proprietor. 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR. 

IN  FIVE  PARTS. 


Part  I.     PRINCETOWN,  Two  BRIDGES,  HEXWORTHY,  AND  POST  BRIDGE 
DISTRICTS. 

Deals  with  the  whole  of  the  central  part  of  the  Moor,  and 
contains  notices  of  Crazy  Well  Pool,  Siward's  Cross,  Childe's  Tomb, 
the  Merivale  Antiquities,  Mis  Tor,  Wistman's  Wood,  Dartmeet,  etc. 

Excursions  i  to  6  ;  41  to  46.  Shorter  Exs.  i  to  14.  Routes 
i  to  8.  Cranmere  Routes  i,  2,  15,  16,  17. 

Part    II.     TAVISTOCK,    LYDFORD,    OKEHAMPTON,    AND    STICKXEPATH 
DISTRICTS. 

Describes  Northern  Dartmoor,  extending  from  Sampford 
Spiney  on  the  West  to  Throwleigh  on  the  East :  Notices  Brent 
Tor,  Lydford  Gorge,  Hill  Bridge,  Tavy  Cleave,  Fur  Tor,  the 
Island  of  Rocks,  Yes  Tor,  the  Belstone  Range,  Cosdon,  etc. 

Excursions  7  to  18.  S.  Exs.  15  to  47.  Routes  9  to  30. 
C.R.  3  to  ii. 

Part  III.    CHAGFORD,  MORETON,   LUSTLEIGH,   AND   BOVEY  TRACEY 
DISTRICTS. 

A  Description  of  Eastern  Dartmoor :  This  part  contains  a 
notice  of  Cranmere  Pool,  and  among  other  places  and  objects 
included  in  the  Excursions  are  the  Scorhill  and  Kes  Tor  Antiquities, 
Teign  Head,  Fernworthy,  Grim's  Pound,  Drewsteignton  Dolmen, 
Fingle  Bridge,  Lustleigh  Cleave,  Hey  Tor,  etc. 

Excursions  19  to  25.  S.  Exs.  48  to  87.  Routes  31  to  46. 
C.  R.  12,  13,  14. 


xiv.  DARTMOOR    GUIDE. 

Part     IV.      ASHBURTON,      BRENT,      IVYBRIDGE,      AND     CORNWOOD 
DISTRICTS. 

The  whole  of  Southern  Dartmoor,  so  rich  in  antiquities  and 
charming  border  scenery,  is  described  in  this  part.  Among  other 
places  noticed  are  Rippon  Tor,  Widecombe-in-the-Moor,  the 
Buckland  Woods,  Holne  Chase,  Brent  Moor,  Shipley,  the  Valley 
of  the  Erme,  Stowford  Cleave,  Hawns  and  Dendles,  etc. 

Excursions  26  to  34.  S.  Exs.  88  to  121.  Routes  47  to  66. 
From  the  southern  part  of  the  moor  the  starting  points  of  the 
Cranmere  Routes  are  Princetown,  Two  Bridges,  and  Post  Bridge, 
C.R.  i,  2,  1 6,  17.  These  are  given  in  Part  I. 

Part     V.      PI.YMPTON.     SHAUGH,     YELVERTON,     AND      DOUSLAND 
DISTRICTS. 

Describes  Western  Dartmoor  from  Cornwood  to  the  Walkham  : 
Shaugh  Bridge,  the  Dewer  Stone,  the  Plym  Valley,  Meavy,  Sheeps 
Tor,  and  the  Burrator  Lake.  This  part  also  contains  a  brief 
description  of  the  old  pack-horse  tracks  on  the  Moor,  to  which 
reference  is  frequently  made  in  the  book,  as  well  as  a  Dictionary 
of  Terms  used  in  connection  with  the  Forest  and  Commons. 

Excursions  35  to  40.  Routes  67  to  76.  For  Cranmere  Routes 
see  Princetown,  Two  Bridges,  and  Post  Bridge,  C.R.  1,2,  16,  17,  in 
Parti. 


Each  Part  contains  directions  for  reaching  Cranmere  Pool  from 
the  Districts  described  in  it. 


DARTMOOR   GUIDE. 


Where  reference  is  made  to  other  of  the  Author's 
books  the  titles  are  thus  abbreviated. 

'A  Hundred  Years  on  Dartmoor"     . .          . .          . .  100  Years. 

'  Gems  in  a  Granite  Setting  "  . .          . .          . .  Gems. 

'The  Ancient  Stone  Crosses  of  Dartmoor   and   Its 

Borderland "          . .          . .         . .          . .          . .  Crosses. 

'  Amid  Devonia's  Alps "  ..          ..          ..          ..  Dev.  Alps. 

'  Tales  of  the  Dartmoor  Pixies  "          ..          ..          ..  Pixies 


SKETCH     MAP 


PLYMOUTH 


OF  DAPTMOOR  ^ 


GUIDE  TO  DARTMOOR. 


CHAGFORD  AND   MORETON 
DISTRICT. 

These  places  are  4^  miles  apart,  via  Eastern  Cross,  but  as  mentioned 
post,  the  distance  between  them  may  be  shortened  by  i  mile  if  the  road 
by  Great  Week  and  Drewston  is  followed,  which  it  may  well  be  by 
the  pedestrian.  There  is  a  regular  road  motor  service  between 
Chagford  and  the  G.W.R.  Station  at  Moreton,  5  m.,  and  also  between 
Chagford  and  Exeter,  L.S.W.R. 

DISTANCES:  BY  ROAD.  ASHBURTON,  via  Beetor  Cross 
and  Swine  Down  Gate,  i2f  m.  from  C.  ;  via  North  Bovey  and  Swine 
Down  Gate,  n£  from  M.  BARRAMOOR  BRIDGE,  C.,  3-^  ;  M., 
3£.  BECKY  FALL,  C.,  j\;  M.,  4|.  BEETOR  CROSS,  C.,  2% ; 
M.,  3.  BELSTONE,  C.,  8±  ;  M.,  nf.  BOVEY  TRACEY,  C.,  lof  ; 
M.,  6J.  BRIDFORD,  C.,  9+;  M.,  5.  BUCKFASTLEIGH  (Ash- 
burton  road  past  Welstor  Cross),  C.,  15^;  M.,  14.  BUCKLAND- 
IN-THE-MOOR,  via  Widecombe,  C.,  12;  M.,  n.  CHRISTOW, 
C.,  ii  ;  M.,  7.  CLIFFORD  BRIDGE,  C.,  via  Uppacott,  6±  ;  M.,  3*. 
CREDITON,  C.,  14;  M.,  12.  DARTMEET,  via  Two  Bridges, 
C.,  I5|;  M.,  17.  DREWSTEIGNTON,  C.,  4;  M.,  via  Easton,  6. 
DUNSFORD,  C.,  8£  ;  M.,  5.  EASTON,  C.,  i|  ;  M.,  3.  EXETER. 
C.,  15;  M.,  12.  FERNWORTHY,  C.,  4*;  M.,  via  Stiniel,  ;i, 
FINGLE  BRIDGE,  C.,  4±  ;  M.,  3^.  GID'LEIGH,  C.,  2\  ;  M.,  via 
Easton,  7.  GRENDON  BRIDGE,  C.,  8£  ;  M.,  10.  GRIM'S  POUND, 
€.,  5|  ;  M.  sf.  HEMSWORTHY  GATE,  C.,  8±  ;  M.,  7.  HENNOCK, 
C.,  io£;  M.,  6.  HEXWORTHY,  C.,  isf  ;  M.,  17^.  ILSINGTON, 
€.,  \2\;  M.,  S.  IVYBRIDGE,  via  Buckfastleigh,  C.,  25^;  M.,  24. 
JURSTON  GATE,  2f  from  C.  LUSTLEIGH,  C.,  8;  M.,  3*. 
LYDFORD,  C.,  19^;  M.,  22f.  MANATON,  C.,  6|  ;  M.,  3$. 
METHERAL,  C.  M.,  £  m.  short  of  Fernworthy.  MOOR  GATE,  C., 
3|  ;  M.,  4.  NEWTON  ABBOT,  C.,  i6J  ;  Af.,  12.  NORTH  BOVEY, 
C.,  4±  ;  M.,  if.  OKEHAMPTON,  C.,  io£  ;  M.,  13^.  PLYMOUTH, 
via  Princetown,  C.,  26$- ;  M.,  28$.  PLYMPTON,  via  Princetown, 
C.,  26  ;  M.,  274.  POST  BRIDGE,  C.,  7  ;  M.,  8J.  PRINCETOWN, 
C.,  12  ;  Af.,  13$.  SyLVDY  PARK,  C.,  i|  ;  M.,  3$-.  SOUTH  BRENT, 
C.,  2oJ;  Af.,  19.  SOUTH  TAWTON,  C.  M.,  $  m.  beyond  South 
Zeal.  SOUTH  ZEAL,  C.,  6£  ;  Af.,  9$.  STICKLEPATH,  via 
Throwleigh,  C.,  6f  ;  Af.,  10^.  5IF/N£  DOWN  GATE,  C.,  6£ ; 

B3 


2  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

M.,  5.  TAVISTOCK,  C.,  18$  ;  M.,  20.  THROWLEIGH,  C.,  3$  ; 
M.,  8.  TWO  BRIDGES,  C.,  ioi  ;  Af.,  12.  WARREN  HOUSE 
INN,  C.,  4j;  M.,  6J.  WHIDDON  DOWN,  C.,  4^ ;  M.,  6J. 
WIDECOMBE,  C.,  9;  M.,  8.  YELVERTON,  C.,  18  ;  Af.,  19$. 
YEOFORD,  C.,  ii  ;  A/.,  13. 

BY  RAII,  from  MORETONHAMPSTEAD  (G.W.R.)  to  Lt/ST- 
LEIGH,  3\  m.  ;  BOFEY  TRACEY,  6£  m.  ;  NEWTON  ABBOT, 
12±  m.  Distances  from  NEWTON  are  given  in  the  Bovey  Tracey 
District. 


Important  Points  and  Landmarks. 

Beetor  Cross — Kes  Tor — Metheral — Moor  Gate  (Princetown  Road) 
— Newhouse,  or  Warren  House  Inn,  on  the  Princetown  Road — Teign 
Head  Farm — Watern  Tor — White  Moor  Stone.  Places  of  Interest. 
Becky  Palls — Bowerman's  Nose — Bradford  Pool — Cranbrook  Castle — 
Fernworthy — Fingle  Bridge  and  Gorge — Gidleigh  Castle  and  Chase — 
Hameldon — Holy  Street — Lustleigh  Cleave — Prestonbury  Camp — 
Raybarrow  Pool — The  Tolmen — Week  Down — Whiddon  Park — 
Wooston  Castle.  Prehistoric  Antiquities.  Assacombe  :  row,  menhir, 
and  circle — Challacombe  :  stone  row — Clannaborough  Down  :  huts 
and  reaves — Froggymead  stone  circle — Grim's  Pound :  large  hut 
enclosure — Little  Hound  Tor  :  stone  circle — Metheral :  huts — Scorhill 
Down  :  stone  circle  —  Shapley  Common  :  hut  circles  —  Shovel 
Down  :  rows  and  sepulchral  remains — Spinsters'  Rock  :  dolmen,  near 
Drewsteignton — Waters  Down :  stone  row.  Mining  Remains.  North 
and  South  Teign,  and  Walla  Brook  :  stream  works: — South  Teign  below 
Metheral :  blowing  houses. 

Chagford  had  an  early  connection  with  Dartmoor  as  one  of  the 
Stannary  towns,  and  it  has  a  later  one  consequent  upon  the  favour  it 
has  found  with  visitors  to  the  mooiland  district.  The  parish  is 
divided  into  four  quarters,  and  there  are  three  manors,  one  of  them 
belonging  to  the  Duchy.  This  is  the  Prince's  Manor,  or  Manor  of 
Great  Week.  The  tract  of  land  now  forming  Whiddon  Park  was 
purchased  by  Sir  John  Widdon  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth.  In  the 
churchyard  is  the  grave  of  James  Perrott,  long  known  to  all  visitors 
to  Chagford  as  the  Dartmoor  guide. 

As  our  excursions  will  commence  at  Gidleigh,  Teigncombe, 
Metheral,  and  Moor  Gate,  it  will  be  more  convenient  to  describe  here 
the  way  to  those  points  both  from  Chagford  and  Moreton,  and  first  of 
all  the  road  between  these  two. 

Moreton  to  Chagford,  4$  m.,  and  Reverse.  Few  directions  are 
necessary.  The  road  runs  north-westward  from  the  town,  and  all 
that  the  visitor  need  remember  is  not  to  branch  R.  About  if  m.  from 
the  town  the  road  forks,  at  a  point  known  as  Half  Way  House,  and  he 
may  choose  either  branch.  The  L.  is  the  shorter  way,  but  the  R.  is 
the  better  road.  If  he  decide  upon  the  former  all  he  has  to  do  is  to 
maintain  a  westerly  course.  Drewston  is  first  passed  and  then  Great 
Week,  his  destination  being  reached  2  m.  from  the  forks.  The  road  R. 
will  bring  him  in  ij  m.  to  Easton  Cross  (straight  on  to  Sandy  Park, 
R.  to  Uppacott),  where  he  will  turn  L,.,  and  reach  Chagford  in  another 
i£  m.,  or  rather  less.  Conversely,  the  pedestrian  from  Chagford 


ALL   ROUND   CHAGFORD.  3 

desiring  to  go  by  the  shorter  way,  will  pass  round  the  east  end  of  the 
churchyard,  and  follow  the  lane  E.  by  Great  Week  and  Drewston  to 
the  forks,  where  he  will  keep  straight  on  for  Moreton.  If  he  chooses 
the  other  way  he  will  pass  down  through  the  town  with  the  Moor  Park 
Hotel  I,.,  and  taking  care  not  to  branch  I,,  to  Rushford  Bridge,  will 
make  his  way  to  Easton  Cross.  ii  m.,  where  he  will  turn  R.,  and  in  about 
i £  m.  will  reach  Half  Way  House,  entering  Moreton  if  m.  further  on. 

Chagford  to  Gidleigh,  2%  m.  Crossing  the  Teign  at  Chagford  Bridge, 
which  is  mentioned  by  the  sixteenth  century  topographer,  Leland,  the 
visitor  passes  upward,  and  L.,  to  Walland  Hill,  and  thence  westward 
to  Murchington.  The  way  lies  through  this,  and  the  visitor,  turning 
neither  R.  nor  L.,  soon  begins  to  descend  to  Highbury  Bridge,  where 
he  crosses  the  Blackaton  Brook.  Less  than  4-  m.  up  the  lane  a  turning 
R.  leads  directly  to  the  village.  Visitors  from  Moreton  will  pass 
through  Chagford. 

Chagford  to  Teigncombe  Down.  (A)  By  Yeo  Bridge,  2|  m.  (B)  By 
Leigh  Bridge,  2£  m.  (A)  Instead  of  descending  to  Chagford  Bridge 
turn  L.  at  the  end  of  the  town.  The  road  runs  down  at  first, 
and  then  up  to  Waye  Barton,  where  the  family  of  Prous  were  seated 
in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  and  here  it  forks.  Keep  R. 
to  Thorn,  where  a  road  branches  L.  to  Collihole,  the  ancient  Collerewe, 
and  the  moor.  Avoid  this,  and  follow  the  road  on  to  Yeo  Bridge,  on 
the  South  Teign,  just  beyond  which  another  road  runs  L.  to  Great 
Frenchbere  and  Thornworthy.  But  the  way  lies  past  the  mill  to  a 
point  about  \  m.  further  on,  where  North  Hill  Lane  comes  up  R.  from 
Leigh  Bridge"  Turn  L.  to  the  hamlet  of  Teigncombe,  whence  the  moor 
may  be  reached  by  way  of  Teigncombe  Common  Lane  (S.  Ex.  50),  or 
by  turning  R.  at  the  hamlet,  and  then  L.  to  the  moor  gate  near  Brim- 
stone Down.  (B)  A  shorter  route  to  Teigncombe  is  by  way  of  Holy 
Street  and  Leigh  Bridge.  The  visitor  will  pass  down  the  hill  as  for 
Chagford  Bridge,  but  will  turn  L.  at  the  old  serge  factory  and  follow 
the  narrow  road,  with  the  mill  stream  R.,  to  Holy  Street.  Passing  this 
he  will  climb  the  hill,  and  soon  after  descend  to  Leigh  Bridge,  where  he 
will  cross  the  South  Teign  immediately  above  its  confluence  with  the 
northern  branch  of  that  stream.  North  Hill  Lane  must  then  be 
followed  upward  to  Teigncombe,  £  m.  from  the  bridge.  Visitors  from 
Moreton  will  first  make  their  way  to  Chagford. 

Chagford  to  Metheral,  3^  m.  To  the  fork  at  Waye  Barton,  as  in 
the  preceding  route  A.,  or  over  Meldon  Common,  as  in  S.  Ex.  57  ;  then 
branch  L-,  and  at  the  fork  on  the  western  edge  of  Meldon  Common 
keep  R.  to  Tannaford.  (There  is  a  guide-post  here).  Avoid  the  turn- 
ing L.  just  beyond  this  place.  The  moor  is  entered  about  I  m.  further 
on  at  Tawton  Gate,  near  Yard  worthy,  and  the  enclosures  of  Metheral 
are  reached  in  another  £  m.  The  same  point  may  also  be  arrived  at 
by  passing  Waye  Barton  and  turning  L.  at  Thorn,  whence  a  lane  runs 
straight  to  the  moor,  passing  Hole  and  Collihole. 

Moreton  to  Metheral,  6\  m.  The  Princetown,  or  western,  road  is 
followed  past  Bughead  Cross,  i£  m.,  to  a  point  where  it  forks,  £  m. 
further  on.  Striking  into  the  R.  branch  the  visitor  will  make  his  way 
past  Thorn  (not  the  farm  named  in  the  preceding  route),  and  thence 
to  a  stile  in  the  hedge  L.,  $•  m.  on,  where  he  will  cross  one  field  and 
reach  the  road  again.  His  next  point  is  Batworthy,  £  m.  (this  must 
not  be  confounded  with  the  estate  of  that  name  near  Teigncombe), 


4  ALL    ROUND    CHAGFORD. 

and  less  than  £  m.  beyond  it  he  will  reach  the  junction  of  the  road  he 
is  following  with  one  coming  L.  from  Beetor  Cross,  which  is  marked 
by  a  guide-post.  A  little  further  on  the  Chagford  road  runs  off  R. 
The  visitor  must  bear  L.,  and  passing  between  Higher  and  Lower 
Stiniel  will  make  his  way  to  Jurston  Common,  through  which  the 
Bovey  river  runs.  He  must  not  descend  to  the  stream,  but  follow  the 
road  across  the  little  common  W.,  and  so  on  to  Jurston  Cross,  where 
is  a  guide-post.  (See  next  Route).  Taking  care  not  to  turn  R.  or  L. 
he  will  continue  on  the  road  to  the  next  guide-post,  where  he  will  branch 
L.  to  Corndon,  which  is  not  far  off.  Here,  turning  R.,  he  will  proceed 
for  £  m.  and  reach  the  road  coming  up  from  Wave  Barton,  where  he 
will  turn  L.  and  soon  find  himself  on  that  part  of  the  moor  formerly 
known  as  Tawton  Common,  with  the  Metheral  enclosures  before  him. 

Chagford  to  Moor  Gate,  via  Jurston  Gate,  3  m.  Turning  R.  from 
the  High  Street  at  the  southern  corner  of  the  churchyard  the  visitor 
will  pass  on  by  the  school  and  up  the  hill  to  Meldon  Hall,  the  direction 
being  due  S.  Here  he  will  bear  R.,  as  also  at  the  next  branch  at  Higher 
Weddicott.  He  will  then  skirt  Meldon  Hill  for  a  short  distance,  when 
the  road  again  forks,  the  point  being  marked  by  a  guide-post.  Avoid 
bearing  R.,  and  keep  straight  on  to  Yellands,  and  thence  to  Jurston 
Cross,  where  is  another  guide-post.  The  way  then  lies  S.  to  Jurston 
Bridge,  on  the  Bovey  river,  a  little  beyond  which  the  visitor  will  arrive 
at  Jurston  Farm.  The  road  bears  R.,  or  westerly,  and  then  abruptly 
turns  L.  and  runs  up  the  hill  to  Jurston  Gate.  Moor  Gate  (i.e.,  the  point 
so  named  where  the  Moreton  road  enters  the  moor)  is  about  |  m.  S.E., 
and  to  reach  it  direct  the  narrow  valley  of  the  Bovey  must  be  crossed. 
There  will,  however,  be  no  necessity  for  doing  this  for  the  purpose  of 
our  excursions.  The  common  may  also  be  reached  from  Jurston  by 
following  up  the  stream  instead  of  proceeding  by  the  road.  See  also 
Chagford  to  Beetor  Cross. 

Moreton  to  Moor  Gate,  4  m.  Few  directions  are  needed  here,  the 
Princetown  road  simply  being  followed.  The  first  point  is  Bughead 
Cross,  ij  m.,  where  a  road  comes  N.  from  Easton  and  Sandy  Park, 
and  goes  S.  to  Lustleigh.  The  L.  branch  is  taken  at  the  forks  just 
beyond  it,  and  Wormhifi  Bridge  over  the  Bovey  is  reached  f  m.  further 
on.  Beyond  this  keep  R.  at  the  branch,  and  climb  Worm  Hill.  Less 
than  |  m.  after  passing  the  farm  so  named  Beetor  Cross  (R.  32,  53) 
will  be  reached,  where  is  a  guide-post.  Descend  the  hill  to  the  point 
where  the  old  stone  cross  stands  on  a  bank,  and  then  follow  the  road 
R.,  or  westerly,  for  i  m.  to  Moor  Gate.  For  a  further  notice  of  this 
road  vide  S.  Ex.  59,  and  Crosses,  Chap.  XIV. 

Chasford  to  Beetor  Cross,  2\  m.  To  the  forks  at  Higher  Weddicott, 
as  in  going  to  Moor  Gate.  Take  the  branch  L.,  and  follow  the  road 
past  Lower  Weddicott  to  the  cross  road.  Then  turn  down  the  hill  R., 
to  the  guide  post  just  below  the  turning  R.  to  Stiniel.  Take  the  R. 
branch,  and  follow  the  road  S.  to  Beetor  Bridge.  Thence  past 
Beetor  Farm  direct  to  the  cross.  The  return  route  is  given  in 
S.  Ex.  61. 

Another  road  leads  to  Beetor  Cross  from  Jurston  Cross  (see  above). 
On  reaching  the  last-named  point  the  road  running  down  to  Langaford 
Bridge  L.,  or  south-easterly,  must  be  chosen.  From  the  bridge  it  goes 
on  direct  to  the  Princetown  road,  which  it  joins  about  i  m.  from  Beetor 
Cross,  L.,  Moor  Gate  being  J  m.  R. 


EXCURSION  19.   CREBER  POUND. 


Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

The  district  here  described  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  line 
drawn  from  Shilstone  Tor  to  Wild  Tor,  and  on  the  south  by  one  extend- 
ing from  Heathercombe  past  Grim's  Pound  to  the  Warren  House  Inn 
and  Assacombe  Hill,  and  embraces  Gidleigh  Common,  Chagford  Com- 
mon, the  common  lands  of  North  Bovey,  and  part  of  the  commons 
in  Manaton  parish,  and  also  a  portion  of  the  east  side  of  the  forest. 

[Tracks  Nos.  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  and  77.] 

Ex.  19. — Creber  Pound,  Buttern  Hill,  Rival  Tor,  Mining  Remains, 
Wild  Tor.  [EXTENSION  To  Ockment  Hill  and  Newtake,  add  4  m.] 
Walla  Brook  Combe,  Watern  Tor,  Manga  Hill,  Teign  Head  Farm, 
Battey  Meres,  Scorhill  Circle,  Berry  Down.  From  and  to  Gidleigh 
2\  m.  from  Chagford,  1 1  m. 

Leaving  Gidleigh,  which  is  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  49,  50,  by  the  road 
running  north-eastward,  with  the  castle  on  our  I,.,  we  soon  reach  the 
old  manor  pound  R.,  and  then  turn  L.  up  the  hill  to  Creber  Pound. 
Just  before  arriving  at  the  gate  we  shall  notice  the  road  branch- 
ing R.  at  an  acute  angle  to  Moortown  and  Ensworthy  (R.  24,  38). 
Creber  Pound,  though  for  several  centuries  a  drift  pound,  is  really  a 
small  piece  of  common  separated  from  the  open  moor  by  enclosures. 
Besides  the  entrance  by  which  we  reach  it  there  are  two  others  leading 
up  to  which  roads  will  be  seen.  The  one  on  the  L.  is  at  the  lower  end 
of  Berry  Down  Stroll,  and  the  other  at  the  head  of  the  pound  at  Creber 
Farms.  It  is  mentioned  in  a  document  of  Charles  the  First's  reign, 
where  it  is  set  forth  that  at  the  time  of  the  drifts  "  cattle  are  driven 
to  a  pound  called  Dunnabridge  Pound  if  they  are  found  in  the  east, 
west,  and  south  quarter  of  the  forest,  and  if  found  in  the  north  quarter 
of  the  forest  to  a  pound  called  Creber  Pound."  Making  our  way  up 
through  this  ancient  enclosure  by  the  road  R.  we  speedily  reach  South 
Creber  L.,  and  North  Creber  R.,  and  passing  through  a  short  stroll 
emerge  on  the  open  moor.  Our  next  point  is  the  summit  of  Buttern 
Hill  (R.  24,  38),  on  which  is  a  small  cluster  of  rocks  sometimes  referred 
to  as  Buttern  Tor,  and  to  which  also  the  name  of  the  Cuckoo  Stone 
has  been  given,  rather  over  \  m.  to  the  N.W.  We  pass  a  newtake  on 
the  slope  R.  as  we  ascend  (R.  25).  This  does  not  join  any  others,  but 
a  little  northward,  near  Buttern  House,  there  are  several,  as  well  as 
many  old  enclosures.  This  small  farm  place  was  built  by  a  moorman 
who  used  to  pasture  cattle  on  the  northern  part  of  the  forest  at  the 
time  when  Creber  Pound  was  used,  much  more  than  it  is  at  present. 
Several  hut  circles  exist  in  the  neighbourhood  of  these  enclosures  on 
the  down,  but  the  most  interesting  object  is  a  stone  circle,  though, 
unfortunately,  it  has  been  partly  destroyed.  We  shall  find  it  about 
\  m.  S.W.  of  the  rocks.  A  green  path  (T.  43)  coming  from  Ensworthy 
N.,  and  running  along  the  E.  side  of  White  Moor  Bottom  (Ex.  18), 
will  be  seen  leading  to  it. 

Leaving  the  head  of  this  bottom,  and  the  Pixies'  Parlour  (Ex.  18) 


6  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

R.,  we  strike  S.W.  to  Rival  Tor,  which  is  about  i  m.  away  (T.  43). 
This  we  shall  find  to  consist  of  one  lump  of  granite,  near  the  summit 
of  a  low  hill  (1,379  feet),  the  western  side,  which  descends  to  a  little 
feeder  of  the  Walla  Brook,  being  covered  with  grass  to  such  an  extent 
as  almost  to  resemble  a  meadow.  This  feeder  comes  down  from  the 
mire  at  Gallaven  (Ex.  17),  £•  m.  N.W.  by  W.,  and  another  branch  of 
it  from  Rue  Lake  Pit,  less  than  \  m.  N.W.  by  N.  Near  the  head  of 
Gallaven  Mire,  and  over  the  shoulder  of  the  hill  W.N.W.,  is  a  bank 
about  14  feet  wide,  and  about  150  feet  long,  having  something  the 
appearance  of  a  track,  though  I  have  been  unable  to  discover  any 
other  parts  of  it  in  the  same  line.  It  runs  N.  and  S.,  and  passes  over 
the  boggy  ground.  It  may  have  had  some  connection  with  the  mining 
remains  on  the  banks  of  the  little  Rue  Lake,  a  short  distance  below 
the  mire,  and  which  are  known  in  the  locality  as  the  White  Works. 
Some  vestiges  of  these  we  shall  see  as  we  presently  make  our  way  to 
Wild  Tor. 

Although  Rival  Tor,  which,  were  it  not  spoken  of  as  Rifle  Tor 
by  the  moor  people  we  might  possibly  be  inclined  to  regard  as  being 
a  corruption  of  the  Celtic  Yr  Eifl  (f  as  v),  and  which,  indeed,  means 
The  Rival,  is  not  of  great  height,  several  important  landmarks  are  in  view 
from  it.  White  Moor  Stone  (Ex.  17)  is  seen  standing  out  against  the 
sky  to  the  N.W.,  with  Kennon  Hill  (Ex.  18)  a  little  to  the  R.  of  it. 
Hound  Tor  bears  N.W.  by  W.,  and  Steeperton  Tor  W.  by  N.  ;  Wild 
Tor  rises  across  the  little  valley  W.  by  S.,  and  Watern  Tor,  the  pro- 
minent object  in  all  this  part  of  the  moor,  S.W.,  the  two  ridges  on  which 
these  stand  being  separated  by  the  dip  forming  the  entrance  to  Walla 
Brook  Combe.  Away  to  the  southward  Siddaford  Tor  (Ex.  20,  45)  is 
seen,  and  S.E.  the  square  mass  of  Kes  Tor. 

Striking  W.S.W.  we  shall  descend  the  grassy  side  of  Rival  Tor  to 
a  point  on  Rue  Lake  where  a  leat  is  taken  from  it,  close  to  which  is  a 
little  fording  place.  (This  is  the  leat  that  runs  by  Scorhill  Rocks  and 
across  the  stroll  above  Berry  Down).  Here  the  stone  heaps  testify  to 
the  former  presence  of  the  tinner,  and  near  to  the  ford  is  one  of  his 
curious  erections.  It  is  of  the  kind  which  are  regarded  as  shelters, 
in  which  it  is  thought  the  miners  placed  their  tools  when  leaving  the 
scene  of  their  labours  for  the  in-country.  Peat  cutters  sometimes 
adopt  a  similar  plan,  and  conceal  their  "  irons  "  under  a  heap  of  peat. 
The  stones  composing  it  are  set  in  the  ground  on  their  edges, 
above  which  is  an  overhanging  rock  forming  a  canopy,  or  roof.  Lower 
down  the  stream  is  a  larger  fording-place  with  a  track  leading  to  it. 
This,  which  is  not  very  plain  in  places,  is  the  one  seen  at  the  stone 
circle  on  Buttern  Hill  (T.  43). 

Our  way  now  lies  up  the  hill  W.  by  S.  to  Wild  Tor,  rather  over  i  m. 
distant,  the  Walla  Brook  being  on  our  L.  At  the  entrance  to  Walla 
Brook  Combe,  where  the  stream  bends,  previously  flowing  from  the 
S.,  we  reach  a  point  known  as  Wild  Tor  Well,  to  which  the  forest  boun- 
dary comes  northward  from  Hound  Tor,  and  crossing  the  stream  is 
carried  up  to  Watern  Tor.  The  so-called  Well  is  mentioned  in  1702 
as  a  mark  standing  on  the  boundary,  and  it  is  also  one  common  to  the 
parishes  of  Throwleigh  and  Gidleigh,  which  here  meet  on  the  forest 
line.  It  is  about  1 50  yards  from  the  Walla  Brook  where  this  is  nearest 
to  it,  or  twice  that  distance  if  the  boundary  line  be  followed,  and 
which  here  runs  S.  by  E.  to  the  northern  pile  of  Watern  Tor.  It  has 


I- 
(f> 

5 


CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

been  suggested  that  Wild  Tor  Well  was  not  on  the  old  forest  boundary 
but  was  named  later  as  a  bondmark  for  the  purpose  of  making  the 
line  agree  with  that  which  the  Jury  of  Survey  had  presented  in  1609. 
There  is  no  foundation  whatever  for  this. 

Passing  up  the  hill  W.  by  N.  from  the  Well  we  reach  Wild  Tor, 
£  m.(  1,741  feet.  This  pile,  which  stands  amid  scattered  granite,  is 
situated  on  a  lofty  ridge  rising  between  the  Steeperton  Brook  on  the 
W.  (Ex.  17),  and  the  Gallaven  Mire  and  Walla  Brook  Combe  on  the  E. 
Steeperton  Tor,  seen  across  the  valley  to  the  N.N.W.,  is  about  i  m. 
distant.  Northward  the  ground  slopes  downward  towards  Hound  Tor, 
but  southward  it  rises  to  the  lofty  Newtake  Hill,  which  attains  an 
elevation  of  1,893  feet-  This  is  sometimes  called  Hangingstone  Hill, 
but  that  name  is  usually  considered  by  the  moormen  to  belong  only 
to  the  N.W.  side  of  it,  where  there  is  a  small  outlying  pile  of  rock. 
Between  Wild  Tor  and  Newtake  there  are  several  very  large  cairns. 

[Extension  to  Ockment  Hill  and  Newtake.  This  will  take  the  ram- 
bler through  some  of  the  more  remote  parts  of  the  forest.  Striking 
W.S.W.  from  Wild  Tor  he  will,  in  less  than  £  m.,  reach  the  Steeperton 
Brook  a  short  distance  below  its  source.  He  will  then  steer  a  little 
N.  of  W.  over  Ockside  Hill  to  Taw  Rocks,  £  m.,  where  that  river  is 
crossed,  and  still  following  the  same  course  will,  in  another  +  m.,  reach 
the  summit  of  Ockment  Hill  (Ex.  16  and  Cranmere  Routes).  In 
returning  he  will  strike  S.E.  to  newtake,  crossing  the  Taw  on  the  way, 
but  rather  further  up  stream  than  before.  The  summit  of  Newtake 
consists  of  good  hard  ground,  on  which  are  scattered  rocks,  though  the 
hill  itself  is  on  the  edge  of  the  fen.  A  fragment  of  wall  exists  there, 
and  to  this  it  owes  its  present  name.  It  is  said  that  in  the  early  days 
of  Teignhead  Farm  its  extension  was  contemplated,  and  that  the 
formation  of  a  great  newtake  was  projected  that  would  include  the 
top  of  this  hill.  As  the  founder  of  the  place  took  in  no  less  than  i  ,400 
acres,  we  can  very  well  believe  that  he  would  have  no  scruples  about 
enclosing  a  few  hundred  more,  and  his  reason  for  not  going  on  with 
the  work  of  robbing  the  commoners  may  possibly  have  been  the  dis- 
covery that  farming  operations  on  the  Dartmoor  fen  were  not  likely 
to  prove  remunerative.  The  view  from  Newtake  is  very  fine.  To 
the  N.  is  Ock  Tor,  with  Steeperton  Tor  a  little  to  the  R.  of  it.  N.E.  is 
Wild  Tor,  with  Cosdon  rising  grandly  some  2^  m.  beyond.  E.  by  N. 
we  see  Watern  Tor  ;  southward  we  look  upon  White  Horse  Hill ;  S.W. 
the  rocks  of  Pur  Tor  appear  ;  westward  is  Rattlebrook  Hill,  with 
Hare  Tor  and  Great  Links  Tor,  and  the  high  land  of  Amicombe  ;  and 
R.  of  these  are  Willes,  Yes  Tor,  and  West  and  East  Mil  Tor.  On 
leaving  the  hill  we  strike  N.E.,  and  soon  come  in  sight  of  Walla  Brook 
Combe  R.  Looking  across  it  E.  we  see  Watern  Tor,  but  instead  of 
making  for  it  direct  shall  bear  a  little  to  the  L.  Presently  we  discern 
a  track  climbing  the  side  of  the  hill  under  the  tor,  and  this  becomes  our 
point.  We  cross  the  Walla  Brook  and  follow  the  path  towards  the  tor.] 

Leaving  Wild  Tor  we  pass  down  the  granite  strewn  slope  S.  by  E. 
to  the  Walla  Brook,  and  make  our  way  by  the  track  referred  to  above 
to  Watern  Tor,  1,756  feet.  This  pile'  bore  the  name  of  Thurlestone 
in  the  thirteenth  century,  for  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt  that  it  is  the 
bound  named  as  such  by  the  Perambulators  of  1240.  This  name  is 


EXCURSION  19.     WATERN   TOR.     TEIGNHEAD.  9 

supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  appearance  presented  by  the  two 
northern  piles,  which,  when  viewed  from  certain  points,  give  the  idea 
of  being  one  in  which  is  a  large  aperture,  the  thurl,  or  thirl,  stone  being 
thus  the  perforated  stone,  the  term  having  its  origin  in  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  thyrelan,  to  pierce.  An  arched  rock  on  the  shore  of  Bigbury 
Bay,  between  the  mouth  of  the  Avon  and  Hope  Cove,  which  much 
resembles  this  tor  seen  from  a  distance,  bears  the  name  of  Thurlestone 
Rock,  and  this  seems  to  me  confirmatory  of  its  derivation.  I  have  a 
copy  of  a  document  in  my  possession  in  which  the  forest  line  is  drawn 
to  the  east  of  the  one  recognized  by  the  border  commoners,  and  this 
runs  to  what  is  there  called  Thurston  Tor,  or  Stone  Tor.  But  I  cannot 
find  any  other  mention  of  Thurston  Tor  as  identical  with  Stone  Tor. 
The  name  of  the  next  bondmark  also  helps  to  prove  that  Thurlestone 
was  the  bound  to  which  the  old  Perambulators  came.  This  is  Manga 
Rock,  |  m.  S.E.  of  Watern  Tor,  manga  being  a  Gaelic  word  meaning  a 
boundaiy  mark.  We  have  elsewhere  noticed  the  instance  of  the  Saxone 
hareston  (T.  44),  occurring  on  the  line,  and  when  we  find  such  names 
as  these,  and  remember  also  that  most  of  the  objects  forming  the  early 
bondmarks  can  still  be  identified  with  certainty,  we  shall  be  justified 
in  believing  that  the  bounds  of  the  forest  of  Dartmoor  have  altered 
very  little  since  they  were  perambulated  in  1 240. 

Watern  Tor,  which  has  also  been  called  Watern  Borough,  exhibits 
in  its  present  name  a  shortened  form  of  that  by  which  it  was  known 
three  hundred  years  ago,  it  being  then  referred  to  as  Waterdontor. 
Thurlestone  is  the  name  attaching  to  the  two  northern  piles  only. 

Less  than  £  m.  S.E.  by  S.  of  Watern  Tor  is  the  N.W.  corner  of  the 
Teignhead  Farm  enclosure.  One  wall,  about  2  m.  in  length,  comes  up 
from  the  S.,  and  another,  about  £  m.  long,  from  the  E.,  the  latter 
climbing  the  steep  hill  from  the  Teign.  Not  far  from  the  corner  is  a 
gate,  and  passing  through  this  we  shall  find  ourselves  on  Hew  Down, 
and  close  to  Hewthorn  Glitter.  As  we  proceed,  our  course  being  a 
little  E.  of  S.,  we  leave  Manga  Rock  below  us  L.,  and  cross  the  head  of 
a  streamlet  referred  to  in  1702  as  Hugh  Lake  (vide  post).  Thence 
passing  over  Manga  Hill,  and  crossing  Manga  Brook,  we  shall  reach 
the  farmhouse,  about  i^  m.  from  the  corner  near  which  we  entered 
the  enclosure. 

Teignhead  Farm  was  taken  in  from  the  forest  somewhere  about 
twenty  years  before  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  by  a  Mr.  Rogers, 
who  built  the  house,  and  lived  there  many  years.  He  was  succeeded 
in  1817  by  a  Mr.  Dodd,  and  thirty  years  later  Mr.  James  Endacott 
became  the  tenant.  After  him,  in  1872,  came  his  son — known  in  this 
part  of  the  moor  as  Teignhead  George — who,  however,  only  remained 
there  three  years.  Then  the  place  was  taken  by  Mr.  John  Gemmell, 
of  Woolwell,  in  the  parish  of  Bickleigh,  as  a  summer  run  for  cattle, 
and  about  1878  was  acquired  by  Mr.  Lamb,  of  Prince  Hall  (Ex.  4), 
who  placed  a  shepherd  there,  and  devoted  it  to  the  rearing  of  Scotch 
sheep.  But  the  venture  did  not  prove  very  successful,  and  the  place 
is  again  used  as  a  summer  grazing  farm.  There  was  formerly  another 
homestead  on  it  at  Great  Varracombe,  called  Mandles,  where  a  son  of 
James  Endacott  once  lived,  and  brought  up  a  large  family.  The 
place  is  now  in  ruins. 

Proceeding  down  the  rough  track  that  leads  from  the  house  to 
the  river  we  shall  soon  find  ourselves  at  Teignhead  Bridge,  a  clapper 


io  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON   DISTRICT. 

erected  by  Mr.  Rogers.  It  consists  of  four  piers  with  three  openings, 
three  stones  being  laid  over  each.  Its  length  is  nearly  28  feet,  and  its 
•width  6  feet  9  inches. 

The  track  by  which  we  have  reached  it  goes  on  to  Fernworthy 
(T.  45 ) ;  we  shall  not,  however,  cross  the  river  and  follow  this,  but 
shall  make  our  way  down  its  L.  bank.  Just  below  the  bridge,  and 
a  little  removed  from  the  river,  are  the  remains  of  some  tinners'  build- 
ings, and  still  further  down  a  waterfall.  We  shall  also  pass  a  fording- 
place,  which  may  possibly  be  the  Mangersford  mentioned  in  a  pre- 
sentment at  a  Court  of  the  Manor  of  Lydford,  in  the  2oth  of  Henry  VI. 
The  little  tributary  which  we  cross  is  Hew  Lake,  and  the  spot  at  which 
it  joins  the  Teign  was  formerly  known  as  Blackstone.  It  seems  prob- 
able that  Hew  Lake  is  the  Whoodelake  of  1609,  and  the  Woodlake 
of  ninety  years  later,*  although  on  a  copy  of  an  old  map  in  my  posses- 
sion this  name  is  given  to  the  little  stream  that  rises  S.E.  of  Stone 
Tor  Hill,  and  flows  by  the  enclosures  of  Thornworthy  into  the  South 
Teign,  or  Little  Teign,  as  the  river  is  there  called.  Below  Hew  Lake 
the  North  Teign  enters  a  level,  part  of  which  appears  on  the  map  in 
question  as  Battey  Meres,  a  name  which  may  have  reference  to  the 
boundary  of  the  forest  near  by,  or  to  a  former  lake  of  which  the  level 
has  been  supposed  to  be  the  bed,  though  it  is  possible  that  Battery 
(i.e.,  Batworthy)  Mires,  which  I  have  heard  the  spot  called,  may  after 
all  be  the  correct  form.  On  this  level,  which  is  bounded  on  the  N.  by 
the  Walla  Brook,  the  former  presence  of  the  tin-streamer  is  plainly 
shown.  The  ground  has  been  worked  most  extensively,  and  heaps  of 
debris,  now  covered  with  vegetation,  extend  for  some  distance  along 
the  bank  of  the  Teign. 

We  shall  turn  away  a  little  from  the  river  after  passing  Hew 
Lake  Foot,  where  the  wall  of  the  Teignhead  enclosure  runs  up  the  hill, 
and  pass  round  to  the  L-  of  a  swampy  flat,  our  course  being  northward 
towards  the  Walla  Brook.  When  about  •£  m.  from  Hew  Lake,  and 
£  m.  from  the  nearest  corner  of  the  wall,  we  shall  come  upon  a  little 
nut,  but  not  of  the  kind  usually  associated  with  the  tinners.  It 
measures  only  6  feet  by  4^  feet  internally,  the  back  wall  being  5  feet 
high,  and  the  front  one  rather  lower.  The  doorway  is  intact,  and  there 
is  a  fire-place.  It  was  probably  a  shepherd's  or  a  peat  cutter's  shelter. 

We  now  make  our  way  to  the  Walla  Brook,  which  we  shall  follow 
downward  to  its  junction  with  the  Teign.  Here  it  is  spanned  by  a 
single  stone  clapper,  and  it  will  also  be  seen  that  its  banks  are  walled 
in  the  manner  of  those  on  the  East  Dart  above  Sandy  Hole  (Rx.  45, 
R.  io  B,  36  B).  Immediately  below  the  confluence  is  Teign  Clapper, 
which  replaces  a  structure  known  more  than  200  years  ago  by  that  name, 
and  which  was  swept  away  by  a  great  flood  in  1826.  Quite  close  to 
this,  and  opposite  to  the  corner  of  the  Batworthy  enclosures  on  the 

*  The  sound  of  the  W  would  disappear  in  Dartmoor  speech,  and 
the  name  be  pronounced  Oodlake,  or  Hoodlake,  from  which  Hewlake 
would  be  a  natural  transition,  since  the  native  drops  the  d  sound 
equally  with  that  of  the  w.  Hood  Lake  is  the  form  given  in  Westcote's 
View  of  Devon  in  1630,  which,  however,  was  not  published  until  1845. 
In  the  sixteenth  century,  and  also  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth, 
there  is  mention  of  a  Hugh  Stone,  but  this  seems  to  indicate  an  object 
S.  of  the  Teign. 


EXCURSION  20.      THE    ROUND    POUND.  11 

•other  side  of  the  stream,  is  the  curious  Holed  Stone,  which,  in  the  days 
when  everything  on  Dartmoor  out  of  the  ordinary  was  ascribed  to  the 
Druids,  was  regarded  as  having  been  perhaps  used  by  them  for  some 
mysterious  purpose  connected  with  their  religious  rites,  and  was 
looked  upon  as  a  tolmen.  And  such  it  is  in  so  far  as  it  is  a  stone  with 
a  hole  in  it,  but  it  is  of  quite  a  different  character  from  the  tolmen 
that  is  classed  as  a  pre-historic  monument.  The  story  used  to  be  told 
that  people  were  brought  here  to  be  "  christened  "  ;  probably  this 
arose  after  antiquaries  began  to  show  curiosity  concerning  it.  The 
hole,  which  is  about  three  feet  in  diameter,  is  worn  through  an  im- 
mense block  of  granite  that  rests  in  the  bed  of  the  Teign,  and  close  to 
its  L.  bank.  Many  rocks  with  cavities  worn  partly  through  them  by 
the  action  of  the  water  may  be  seen  on  the  Dartmoor  streams. 

On  Scorhill  Down,  due  N.  of  the  Holed  Stone,  and  only  a  short 
distance  from  it,  is  the  fine  stone  circle  usually  known  by  the  same 
name  as  the  common.  It  is  90  feet  in  diameter,  and  consists  of  24 
upright  stones,  and  eight  fallen  ones,  but  the  breaks  in  it  seem  to  show 
that  there  were  formerly  more  than  this.  One,  which  is  much  higher 
than  the  others,  is  about  8  feet  in  height,  and  another,  standing  nearly 
opposite  to  it,  is  about  6  feet.  The  others  are  lower,  some  being  under 
3  feet.  There  is  little  doubt  that  when  the  walls  near  by  were  built 
this  monument  suffered  at  the  hands  of  those  engaged  in  the  work, 
and  unfortunately  it  was  again  assailed  by  the  vandal  a  few  years  ago, 
one  of  its  stones  being  split  for  posts.  This  destructive  work  was, 
however,  quickly  discovered  and  stopped. 

Striking  north-eastward  we  shall  make  our  way  to  Berry  Down 
Stroll,  the  head  of  which  is  only  £  m.  distant.  Down  through  this 
stroll  we  pass,  and  at  the  bottom  turn  R.  to  Berry  Down  Farm,  or 
Beridon,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  and  apparently  with  more  correct- 
ness, whence  one  Autumn  day,  in  the  24th  of  Henry  VIII.,  John  Roo,  its 
holder,  set  out  to  the  Parliament  of  the  Tinners  on  Crockern  Tor.  We 
pass  the  farm  and  make  our  way  down  the  long  lane  to  Highbury 
Bridge,  returning  to  Chagford  through  Murchington,  as  in  R.  24  B. 

Ex.  20. — Teigncombe  Down,  The  Round  Pound,  Shovel  Down  Stone 
Rows,  The  Long  Stone,  The  Three  Boys,  Fernworthy,  Circle  on  Froggy- 
mead  Hill,  Long  Ridge,  The  Grey  Wethers,  Siddaford  Tor  [Ouintin's 
Man,  add  2  m.],  Kes  Tor.  From  and  to  Teigncombe  Down  (2^  m. 
from  Chagford,)  9  m. 

Entering  upon  the  common  at  the  moor  gate  at  Brimstone  Down 
we  follow  the  road  for  about  £  m.,  when  we  shall  reach  the  object 
known  as  the  Round  Pound.  This  stands  close  beside  the  track,  and 
in  the  midst  of  a  group  of  remains  consisting  of  reaves,  or  low  banks, 
and  hut  circles,  and  one  or  two  rectangular  enclosures,  the  whole  being 
overlooked  by  the  prominent  Kes  Tor.  The  Round  Pound  is  really  the 
remains  of  a  large  hut  dwelb'ng  surrounded  by  a  wall,  the  space  between 
the  two  being  divided  into  half  a  dozen  small  courts,  or  pens,  by  low 
walls  radiating  from  the  hut  to  the  outer  rampart.  Across  the  road, 
and  a  short  distance  up  the  hill,  is  another  enclosure,  but  rectangular 
in  form,  and  which  is  also  somewhat  similarly  divided  into  pens.  The 
hut  circles  on  this  part  of  the  common  show  as  that  a  very  extensive 
settlement  of  the  primitive  people  of  the  moor  once  existed  here. 
And  it  is  one  of  more  than  ordinary  interest ;  for,  standing  in 


12  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

proximity  to  these  ruined  dwellings,  are  also  many  sepulchral  monu- 
ments, while  in  the  immediate  vicinity  a  vast  number  of  flint  imple- 
ments, consisting  of  arrow-heads,  knives,  and  scrapers,  have  been, 
found.  These  were  first  discovered  in  1887,  on  the  adjoining  estate 
of  Batworthy,  and  were  so  numerous  that  by  1889  Mr.  F.  N.  Budd, 
the  owner,  had  collected  no  less  than  6,400  specimens,  including  flakes 
and  nodules.  As  many  of  these  were  of  chocolate  coloured  chert, 
similar  to  the  chert  pebbles  at  Sidniouth,  Mr.  Budd  was  led  to  the 
belief  that  much  of  the  material  was  brought  from  the  further  side  of 
the  Exe.  The  fields  in  which  the  specimens  were  found  were  evidently 
formed  on  a  spot  once  devoted  to  their  manufacture.  Further  speci- 
mens have  been  obtained  there  since  1889.  The  monuments  referred  to 
we  shall  find  on  Shovel  Down,  to  which  we  make  our  way  by  following 
the  track,  with  the  enclosures  of  Batworthy  R.,  to  Batworthy  Corner, 
where  the  wall  forms  a  sharp  angle,  and  is  carried  down  the  hill  in  a 
north-westerly  direction  to  the  North  Teign  at  the  Holed  Stone 
(Ex.  19).  Exactly  300  yards  S.  by  W.  of  Batworthy  Corner  is  a  group 
of  stones  forming  the  remains  of  three  concentric  circles,  and  if  the 
visitor  first  makes  his  way  to  this  he  will  the  better  be  able  to  follow 
the  brief  description  of  the  monuments  here  given.  They  cannot  be 
said  to  be  particularly  striking,  for  the  stones  composing  them  are 
small,  but  they  are  interesting  as  furnishing  examples  of  the  circle, 
the  row,  the  cairn,  and  the  menhir.  They  have  obtained  some 
note  in  consequence  of  being  situated  on  a  border  common  often 
visited,  but  the  rambler  who  knows  Dartmoor  will  hardly  fail  to 
remember  places  where  remains  much  more  striking  are  to  be  seen. 
Standing  in  the  triple  circle  and  looking  northward  the  visitor  will 
have  before  him  two  double  stone  rows,  one  running  almost  due  N., 
and  extending  for  about  140  yards,  and  the  other  running  N.  by  W. 
for  about  the  same  distance.  Now  turning  southward  the  observer  will 
find  another  row  before  him,  also  double.  This  runs  in  a  direction 
S.  by  E.  for  no  yards,  and  terminates  in  a  dilapidated  cairn,  probably 
the  site  of  a  vanished  kist.  Having  reached  this  point,  and  still  looking 
southward,  he  will  have  yet  another  double  row  before  him,  although 
it  does  not  start  from  the  cairn,  but  some  few  score  yards  further  on. 
Upon  the  line  of  this  row  stands  the  fine  menhir  known  as  the  Long- 
stone,  to  which  the  visitor  now  makes  his  way.  This  ancient  monolith 
is  ten  feet  in  height,  and  forms  one  of  the  forest  bondmarks,  a  purpose 
it  has  probably  served  from  an  early  time.  It  seems  to  be  either 
the  Heigheston  or  Langestone  of  the  perambulators  of  1240.*  It 
also  stands  at  that  point  on  the  forest  boundary  line  where  the  common 
lands  belonging  to  Gidleigh  and  Chagford  meet.  Southward  of  the 
menhir  about  220  yards  is  a  stone  that  once  formed  a  supporter  of  a 
capstone  of  a  dolmen.  This  single  block,  and  the  former  name  of  the 
dolmen — it  was  called  the  Three  Boys — are  all  that  remains  of  a  monu- 

*  Among  other  forms  of  these  names  mentioned  at  various  periods 
(though  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  they  refer  to  the  same  object), 
are  Hangeston,  Hengston,  Highstone,  Yessetone,  Gotestone,  and 
Yestelay.  We  have  already  referred  to  Hugh  Stone  (Ex.  19)  ;  this 
also  appears  as  Fewstone  ;  and  Heath  Stone  seems  also  to  be  called 
Gesstone,  while  in  1699  there  is  mention  of  an  object  in  ifs  vicinity,  if 
not  identical  with  it,  called  Half  Stone. 


EXCURSION  20.     THORNWORTHY    KIST.     FERN  WORTHY.    13 

ment  which,  were  it  now  in  a  complete  state,  would  have  given  us  an 
•object  of  antiquity  such  as  this  part  of  the  moor  now  furnishes  no 
example  of,  and  would  have  lent  much  additional  interest  to  these 
Shovel  Down  remains. 

Striking  S.  from  the  Three  Boys,  but  bearing  a  little  to  the  I,., 
we  soon  reach  a  small  stream,  a  tributary  of  the  South  Teign,  and 
shall  make  our  way  down  this  through  Longstone  Bottom,  a  rather 
marshy  spot,  with  Thornworthy  Tor  on  our  L.  When  about  £  m. 
from  the  ruined  dolmen  we  enter  a  stroll  formed  on  the  L.  by  the 
enclosures  of  Thornworthy,  and  on  the  R.  by  those  of  Fernworthy. 
In  this  stroll,  which  runs  down  to  the  Teign,  and  not  far  from  the  left 
bank  of  the  little  tributary  stream,  a  good  example  of  a  kistvaen  may 
be  seen.  It  was  only  brought  to  light  about  1880,  having  previously 
been  buried  beneath  a  small  mound.  On  removing  the  cover  stone 
and  examining  this  sarcophagus,  some  fragments  of  pottery  and  flints 
were  discovered.  In  some  of  the  examples  on  the  moor  the  covering 
slab  is  missing  (although  this  is  not  found  to  be  the  case  where  the 
kists  are  far  removed  from  newtake  walls),  but  usually  it  is  seen  lying 
near  the  grave.  In  the  present  instance,  instead  of  being  thrown  on 
one  side  it  was  supported  on  some  fragments  of  rock  quite  near  to  the 
kist,  but  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  view  of  the 
interior.  One  side  stone  of  this  rude  coffin  is  five  feet  long,  the  other 
being  3  ft.  7  inches  at  the  top  ;  the  end  stones  are  2  feet,  and  i  foot 
9  inches  long  respectively,  the  height  of  the  whole  being  about  2  feet. 
The  cover  stone  in  5  feet  in  length,  and  3^  feet  in  width  at  its  widest 
part.  The  circle  formed  by  the  bank  that  enclosed  the  low  mound 
that  covered  the  kist  is  24  feet  in  diameter,  interior  measurement. 

Making  our  way  down  to  the  Teign  we  shall  turn  R.  and  follow 
that  stream  upward  to  Fernworthy  Bridge.  Here  close  to  the  modern 
erection  is  a  fine  example  of  the  single  stone  clapper.  The  slab  forming 
this  solid  footway  is  rather  over  ten  feet  in  length,  and  nearly  four  feet 
wide,  and  is  about  a  foot  thick.  The  road,  which  comes  down  to  the 
bridge  from  Metheral,  runs  past  the  farmhouse  to  Froggymead  Hill, 
whence  a  green  track  goes  out  to  Teign  Head  (T.  45).  Fernworthy 
is  an  old  settlement,  and  formerly  consisted  of  three  farms,  and  is 
referred  to  in  a  seventeenth  century  document  as  a  village.  It  is  not, 
however,  one  of  the  ancient  forest  tenements,  nor  is  it  strictly  a  part  of 
the  forest,  although  it  lies  within  its  boundaries,  and  is  consequently  in 
the  parish  of  Lydford.  Rather  over  200  years  ago  it  was  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  Farmer  Lightfoot,  and  the  letter  L  cut  in  the  stone  over  the 
doorway,  which  bears  the  date  1690,  in  all  probability  refers  to  him. 
The  estate  is  mentioned  by  the  Jury  of  Survey,  who  enquired  into  the 
bounds  of  the  forest  in  1609,  so  that  the  date  on  the  stone  evidently 
records  some  alterations,  or  enlargement,  only.  A  considerable 
portion  of  the  land  has  been  enclosed  within  the  last  hundred  years 
or  so,  but  had  previously  belonged  to  the  estate,  and  was  defined  by 
a  tin  bound.  Other  parts  of  it  are  Lowtons,  Silkhouse,  Assacombe, 
Brownhills,  and  Little  Newtake,  and  it  extends  along  both  banks  of 
the  Teign.  Fernworthy  is  a  good  example  of  a  moorland  dwelling, 
and  like  most  of  the  Dartmoor  homesteads  in  similar  situations,  is 
sheltered  by  some  fine  sycamores. 

Passing  the  house,  near  to  which  we  shall  notice  an  old  well,  we 
make  our  way  to  the  head  of  the  lane,  where  a  gate  opens  on  Froggymead 


14  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

Hill.  Here,  built  into  the  wall,  is  a  large  stone  having  a  circular 
hollow  sunk  in  it.  The  rambler  round  Chagford  will  meet  with  many 
of  these  stones.  The  hollows  were  intended  to  receive  the  stanchion 
of  a  gate,  one  of  the  holed  stones  being  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  the 
other  placed  so  as  to  project  from  the  wall  or  hedge  in  which  it  was  built. 
This  upper  stone  was,  of  course,  not  secured  until  the  gate  was  put 
in  its  proper  position.  About  £  m.  N.W.  of  the  gate  is  a  good  example 
of  the  stone  circle.  It  is.  not  of  great  size,  the  diameter  being 
only  about  sixty  feet,  nor  do  the  stones  rise  high  above  the  turf,  but 
it  is  in  a  capital  state  of  preservation.  Two  or  three  of  the  stones 
appear  to  be  missing.  A  short  distance  N.  by  E.  are  the  remains  of  a 
stone  row,  and  the  vestiges  of  another  are  to  be  seen  to  the  S.  of  the 
circle.  This  has  led  to  a  suggestion  that  these  rows  were  once  connected 
with  the  ones  we  have  just  examined  near  the  Longstone,  and  also 
that  the  latter  may  perhaps  have  been  continued  to  the  circle  at  Scor- 
hill  (Ex.  19).  In  fact,  the  idea  has  been  so  elaborated  that  a  sketch 
plan  has  been  made  in  which  the  rows  are  shown  to  extend  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  distance  from  Froggymead  to  Scorhill.  But  there 
is  no  reason  for  supposing  that  these  remains  on  Proggymead  Hill 
ever  formed  part  of  the  Longstone  group,  or  that  the  latter  were  linked 
up  with  the  Scorhill  circle.  The  existence  of  a  cluster  of  antiquities 
near  to  another  of  a  similar  character  furnishes  no  ground  for  sup- 
posing them  to  have  been  connected  with  each  other.  But  by  means 
of  an  imaginary  plan  it  would,  of  course,  be  easy  to  show  that  the 
whole  of  the  antiquities  in  the  moorland  region  once  formed  a  single 
group. 

Turning  south-westward  we  shall  make  our  way  to  Hemstone 
Rocks,  situated  on  that  stretch  near  Long  Ridge  .known  as  Tom's  Hill, 
passing  a  few  hut  circles  as  we  proceed.  Near  to  us,  on  the  L.,  is  the 
South  Teign,  and  on  the  further  side  of  that  stream  the  slope  of  Assa- 
combe  Hill.  Ages  ago  this  quiet  valley  was  the  scene  of  the  secret 
meetings  of  a  handsome  youth  and  a  fair  maiden.  Who  or  what  they 
were  the  story  does  not  tell  us,  further  than  that  the  lady  dwelt  some- 
where near  by  on  the  border  of  the  moor,  and  that  her  lover  was  in 
hiding  in  the  forest,  but  was  "  kept  out  of  bis  rights."  (Cf.  the  story  of 
Gaveston,  Ex.  2).  From  Hemstone  Rocks,  below  which  is  Hem- 
stone  Bottom,  we  pass  up  the  hill  W.S.W.  to  the  circles  known  as  the 
Grey  Wethers,  £  m.  distant.  This  name,  which  we  find  applied  to- 
similar  monuments  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  is  popularly  sup- 
posed to  have  been  derived  from  a  fancied  resemblance  of  the  group 
of  stones  to  a  flock  of  sheep.  I  have  elsewhere  related  [Crosses, 
Chap.  XIV.]  how  these  stones  were  once  the  object  of  a  practical  joke, 
having  been  sold  by  a  man  named  Debben  to  a  farmer,  who  was  a 
stranger  to  this  part  of  the  moor,  as  so  many  grey  wethers.  The 
bargain  was  struck  in  the  Warren  House  Inn,  and  the  farmer  was 
directed  to  go  to  the  newtake  near  Siddaford  Tor,  where  he  would  be 
able  to  see  his  purchase.  This  he  did,  but  unlike  Bo  Peep  found  not 
only  that  the  sheep  would  not  come  home,  but  also  that  they  had 
no  tails  to  bring  behind  them.*  The  Grey  Wethers  consist  of  two  circles, 
the  circumferences  of  which  nearly  touch  each  other.  The  northern 

*  I  gathered  this  story  many  years  ago  from  the  late  Mr.  Richard 
Cleave,  of  Hexworthy. 


EXCURSION  20.     SIDDAFORD   TOR.     QUINTIN'S    MAN.       15 

one  is  100  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  southern  one  about  5  feet 
more.  Many  of  the  stones  have  fallen,  but  fortunately  the  greater 
number  of  these  have  escaped  the  hand  of  the  vandal,  which  is  rather 
to  be  wondered  at  seeing  that  there  is  a  newtake  wall  close  by.  I 
first  examined  these  circles  in  1878,  when  the  northern  one  consisted 
of  1 6  stones,  of  which  9  were  erect,  but  there  were  indications  of  others 
over  which  the  turf  had  grown.  In  the  southern  circle  I  counted 
27  stones,  of  which  only  7  were  standing.  The  average  height  of  these 
is  about  4  feet.  They  are  rather  different  in  appearance  from  the 
stones  that  usually  compose  the  circles  on  the  moor,  being  slabs 
approaching  a  rectangular  form.  The  circles  are  situated  on  the  slope 
of  Siddaford.  Tor,  a  pile  presenting  nothing  of  importance  in  itself,  but 
commanding  a  most  extensive  view,  and  being  a  prominent  land  mark 
throughout  a  great  part  of  the  moorland  region.  It  attains  an 
elevation  of  1,764  feet,  and  one  of  its  rocks,  a  thin  flattish  mass,  could 
once  be  made  to  rock,  or  log,  with  ease.  It  is  a  pity  the  Druidophiles 
were  unaware  of  this.  What  a  scene  they  might  have  drawn  of  the 
arch  druid  hurrying  up  from  Wistman's  Wood  with  a  big  bunch  of 
mistletoe,  while  the  other  druids  gathered  in  the  "  sacred  "  circles, 
and  the  verdant  laymen  waited  by  the  logan  with  a  beautiful  childlike 
trust. 

(About  i  m.  from  Siddaford  Tor  is  a  tumulus  known  as  Quintin's 
Man.  The  name  points  to  the  former  existence  there  of  a  menhir, 
but  no  such  object  is  now  to  be  seen.  To  reach  it  the  visitor  may  follow 
the  wall  running  north-westward  from  near  the  tor,  and  will  cross  the 
North  Teign  about  midway.  The  tumulus  is  only  a  little  over  200 
yards  from  the  wall.  The  return  may  be  either  by  way  of  Siddaford 
or  the  visitor  may  strike  E.N.E.  to  Teignhead  Farmhouse,  i  m.,  cross- 
ing the  tributaries  known  as  Little  Verracombe  and  Great  Varracombe 
on  the  way.  Near  the  latter  was  situated  the  dwelling  known  as 
Mandles,  mentioned  previously  (Ex.  19).  Prom  Teignhead  Farm  the 
homeward  route  given  in  Ex.  19  may  be  followed). 

(From  Post  Bridge  to  the  Grey  Wethers  see  Ex.  45). 

From  Siddaford  Tor  we  shall  make  our  way  over  Long  Ridge,  our 
course  being  N.E.  In  about  2  m.  we  shall  reach  the  westerly  arm  of 
the  tributary  flowing  through  Longstone  Bottom,  and  £  m.  further  on 
shall  reach  the  Longstone  itself.  We  may  now  either  follow  the  stone 
rows,  and  so  retrace  our  steps  to  Batworthy  Corner  and  thence  return 
to  the  moor  gate  at  Brimstone  Down,  or  we  may  reach  Teigncombe 
Common  Lane  by  way  of  Kes  Tor,  which  we  see  above  us  to  the  N.E. 
(Routes  from  the  two  are  given  in  S.  Ex.  55). 

Another  route  from  Siddaford  is  by  way  of  the  North  Teign. 
The  visitor  will  pass  through  the  gate  near  the  Grey  Wethers,  and 
descend  to  the  clapper  below  Teignhead  farmhouse  (Ex.  19),  whence 
he  will  pass  up  the  side  of  the  hill,  with  the  river  L-  Soon  leaving  the 
track  he  will  strike  N.E.  to  Stonetor  Hill,  or  Round  Hill,  as  it  is  also 
called,  i  m.  from  the  Bridge.  This  is  about  i  m.  from  Batworthy 
Corner,  the  direction  being  N.E.  by  E.,  and  the  way  running  over 
Shovel  Down. 


16  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 


Ex.    21. — Hut   Circles   near   Metheral,    Stone    Row  in  Assacombe, 
Waters  Down,  King's  Oven,  Lakeland,  Moor  Gate.     From  and  to  the 
moor  gate  at  Yard  worthy  (3^-  m.  from  Chagford),  6  m.     If  the  return, 
be  to  Moor  Gate  (4  m.  from  Moreton),  the  distance  is  about  the  same. 
Proceeding  by  the  road  past  Waye  and  the  western  flank  of  Meldon 
Common  (see  Chagford  to  Metheral),  we  enter  the  moor  at  Tawton  Gate, 
near  Yardworthy,  and  following  the  road  over  Yardworthy  Common, 
shall  cross  the  Metheral  Brook,  and  reach  the  entrance  to  the  farm  of 
that  name.     The  ancient  track  to  which  we  have  elsewhere  referred 
as  running  across  the  forest  from  Chagford  took  a  southerly  line  from 
near   this   point,   and  was   carried  over  Hurston   Ridge.     The   stone 
marking  its  course,  and  to  which  we  have  referred,  may  yet  be  seen 
near  the  farm,  and  is  shown  on  an  unpublished  map  of  the  forest  as 
King-de-stone.     From  this  the  boundary  went  on  to  Heath  Stone, 
on  which  we  offer  some  remarks  in  the  Tracks  Section  (T.  44).   This  part 
of  Chagford  Common  is  also  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  58).     On  the  slope  below 
the  farmhouse  at  Metheral,  to  the  N.W.,  and  not  verj>  far  from  the 
South  Teign,  is  an  object  which  has  been  thought  by  some  to  be  part  of 
a  stone  row  ;  in  fact,  it  is  shown  as  such  on  the  new  Ordnance  Maps,  or 
rather,  as  a  stone  "  avenue."     But  I  altogether  fail  to  see  the  true 
characteristics  of   a  row  in  this  object.     It  consists  of  two  parallel 
walls,  about  a  dozen  feet  apart,  the  stones  being  set  closely  together 
on  their  edges.     These  fragments  of  wall  are  probably  the  remains  of 
some  ancient  enclosures,  and  are  precisely  similar  in  character  to  .some 
that  may  be  seen  in  a  newtake  on  the  hillside  above  the  Forest  Inn, 
at  Hexworthy,    and  between  that  hostelry  and   Down   Ridge.     But 
there    are,    nevertheless,    some   undoubted    antiquarian    objects   near 
Metheral.     In  the  glen  below,  and  not  very  far  from  Thorn  worthy,  is 
a  good  example  of  the  miner's  blowing-house,  with  a  trough  and  mould- 
stone,  which  we  have  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  56,  and  on  Lowton  Hill  near 
by  are  some  fine  specimens  of  hut   circles,   one    being    particularly 
noticeable.     Lowton  forms  a  part  of  the  old  Fernworthy  settlement 
(Ex.  20),  and  takes  its  name  from  a  pile  of  rocks,  anciently  known  as 
Lowton  Borough.     This  pile  we  shall  see  in  front  of  us  as  we  make  our 
way  along  the  road  past  Metheral  Farm  gate.     On  reaching  the  corner 
of  the  enclosures  we  leave  the  road,  and  keep  straight  on  towards  the 
rocks.     On  and  around  this  pile  the  hut  circles  will  be  seen,  the  striking 
example  to  which  we  have  alluded  being  not  far  from  the  summit. 
This  hut  is  32  feet  in  internal  diameter,  and  the  stones  of  which  its 
wall  is  built  are  of  very  large  size.     Running  round  the  interior  of  the 
"wall  is  a  low  bench  of  stones,  a  most  unusual  feature  in  these  erections. 
A  somewhat  similar  arrangement  may  be  seen  in  a  hut  near  the  entrance 
to  Erme  Pound  (Ex.   32),  but  in  that  case  the  building  is    a    small 
rectangular  one,  of  the  kind  associated  with  the  tinners,  whereas  the 
present  example  is  circular,  and  of  another  type. 

Striking  S.W.  we  cross  the  Lowton  Brook  (R.  10  B,  36  B),  above 
the  L.  bank  of  which  we  shall  find  more  hut  circles.     We  now  make 


EXCURSION  21.       KING'S   OVEN.  17 

our  way  up  Assacotube  Hill,  our  direction,  being  about  S.S.W.,  and  shall 
soon  look  down  into  Assacombe,  through  which  the  brook  of  that 
name  runs  northward  to  the  Teign.  Our  course  should  bring  us  near 
to  a  ruined  farmhouse,  sometimes  known  as  Hamlyn's  House,  or 
Assacombe  House,  and  to  the  L.  of  this,  i.e.,  a  little  S.  of  it,  is  a  stone 
row  running  down  the  slope  in  a  direction  due  W.  It  is  a  double  row, 
and  starts  from  a  dilapidated  circle  at  the  eastern  end,  and  extends  for 
a  distance  of  nearly  75  yards.  A  few  years  ago  this  row  was  restored, 
the  tall  stones  at  its  higher  end  being  set  up.  One  of  these  may  be 
regarded  as  a  menhir. 

Making  our  way  up  through  the  combe  we  shall  gradually  leave 
the  little  stream  on  the  R.,  and  pursuing  a  S.E.  course  shall  pass  over 
Assacombe  Hill  to  Water  Hill,  with  Hurston  Ridge  on  our  L.  Water 
Hill,  or  Waters  Down,  as  it  is  more  frequently  called — apparently 
the  Waterdown  Rugge,  of  which  there  is  mention  in  the  early  part  of 
the  sixteenth  century — rises  behind  the  Warren  House  Inn.  It  is 
rather  amusing  to  find  the  summit  of  this  hill  described  by  a  writer 
under  the  impression  that  he  was  giving  his  readers  an  account  of  King" 
Oven.  He  tells  us  that  it  was  "  generally  regarded  as  a  smel ting- 
house  of  the  'old  men,'  "  but  that  he  could  not  "  regard  it  as  anything 
but  a  oairn  pure  and  simple."  This  certainly  would  not  matter  very 
much,  only  it  was  rather  unkind  to  say  that  many  before  him  had 
speculated  "  on  the  low  cairn,  the  stone-lined  trench,  and  the  little 
pits."  We  venture  to  think  that  very  few  since  the  days  of  the 
Rev.  E.  A.  Bray  have  mistaken  Water  Hill  for  King's  Oven.  Near 
the  summit  of  the  hill  is  a  double  stone  row,  extending  for  a  distance 
of  about  153  yards,  its  direction  being  S.W.  and  N.E.  At  the  western 
end  is  a  dilapidated  cairn  and  a  menhir.  Here  a  stone  hammer  was 
found,  which  had  been  used  as  a  trigging  stone  for  one  of  the  mono- 
liths. 

(The  neighbourhood  of  the  Warren  House  Inn,  or  Newhouse  as  it 
is  usually  called  there,  is  noticed  in  our  account  of  the  Post  Bridge 
District.  See  Part  I). 

Leaving  the  despoiled  cairn  on  Waters  Down  we  shall  make  our 
way  down  the  slope  eastward,  and  when  at  a  distance  of  350  yard* 
from  it,  and  about  £  m.  N.  of  the  Warren  House  Inn,  shall  find  our- 
selves on  the  site  of  the  ancient  blowing-house  mentioned  in  the  Per- 
ambulation of  1240  as  Furnum  Regis,  and  in  the  Forest  Survey  of  1609 
as  King's  Oven.  In  the  scanty  remains  that  now  exist  it  would  be 
impossible  to  recognize  the  ruins  of  a  smelting-house,  and  it  is  the 
name  alone  that  enables  us  to  identify  the  site.  Down  to  about  the 
second  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  it  would  appear  that  most  of  this 
interesting  structure,  which  in  early  times  was  probably  the  centre 
of  the  tin  streaming  industry  in  this  part  of  the  moor,  was  standing. 
I«ater  the  work  of  destruction  was  completed  by  the  erectors  of  some 
modern  mine  buildings  near  by,  who  supplied  themselves  with  stone 
from  the  ruins.  All  that  is  now  to  be  seen  is  a  low  rampart,  composed 
of  small  stones,  forming  a  circular  enclosure  rather  over  70  yards  in 
diameter,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  roughly  rounded  stone  measuring^ 
3  feet  across,  and  near  it  a  small  pile  of  stones  that  seem  to  have  had 
one  end  worked  into  a  rounded  form.  These  were  once  taken  away 
from  the  circle  to  be  used  in  a  mine  building  near  by,  but  before  this, 
was  done  the  source  whence  they  had  been  obtained  became  known,. 

o3 


i8  CHA6FORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

and  they  were  ordered  to  be  taken  back.*  On  the  south  side  of  the 
circle  is  a  dilapidated  rectangular  building,  but  this  cannot  with  safety 
be  identified  as  part  of  the  ancient  smelting-house.  Apparently  it 
belongs  to  a  later  day  than  that  of  the  circle.  Nothing  is  known  of 
King's  Oven,  for  the  Perambulators  of  1240  merely  mention  it,  and 
do  not  say  whether  it  was  then  in  use.  But  however  this  may  be  we 
shall  hardly  be  wrong  in  supposing  that  its  name  was  derived  not 
from  being  a  furnace  connected  with  tinworks  belonging  to  Henry  III., 
but  to  a  much  earlier  king,  for  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  of  the  high 
antiquity  of  this  smelting-place. 

From  King's  Oven  we  shall  bend  our  steps  northward,  and  shall 
soon  reach  the  springs  of  the  main  branch  of  the  Bovey  river,  known 
locally  as  the  Husson,  i.e.,  Hurston,  Water,  but  to  which  during  late 
years  the  name  of  the  North  Walla  Brook  has  been  given  as  being  in 
accordance  with  a  certain  view  with  regard  to  the  forest  boundary 
line.  It  is  true  that  the  Perambulators  of  1240  draw  the  line  "in 
longum  Wallebroke  "  from  the  north  towards  King's  Oven,  but  we 
cannot  be  sure  that  the  Bovey  was  intended,  and  as  it  is  nowhere 
spoken  of  as  the  Walla  Brook,  it  is  misleading  to  fasten  that  name 
upon  it.  More  than  two  hundred  years  ago  the  spot  where  this  stream 
rises  was  referred  to  as  Bovey  Combe  Head.f  But  in  support  of  the 
contention  in  question  the  name  North  Walla  Brook  has  been  placed 
on  the  Ordnance  Map  of  Devon  (XCIX.,  N.E.),  although  on  the  very 
next  sheet  (LXXXIX.,  S.E.)  the  same  stream  is  called  the  River 
Bovey,  which,  indeed,  it  is  well  known  to  be.  But  the  theory  respect- 
ing the  forest  boundary  needed  that  the  upper  portion  of  it  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  King's  Oven  only  should  be  labelled  Walla  Brook. 
Presumably  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  add  "  North  "  to  the  name 
in  order  to  distinguish  the  stream  from  the  Walla  Brook  flowing  south 

f £ 

*  This  encircling  bank  was  considerably  damaged  in  1910,  sixty- 
five  feet  of  it  being  removed  by  a  road  contractor.  Complaint  was 
made  to  the  local  authority  by  the  Bailiff  of  Dartmoor,  acting  for  the 
Duchy,  and  it  was  requested  that  the  stones  should  be  taken  back  and 
replaced  as  nearly  as  possible  in  their  original  positions.  It  was 
pointed  out  that  King's  Oven  was  within  the  boundary  of  the  forest, 
and  that  the  stones  constituted  what  was  an  ancient  monument  of 
considerable  value.  The  stones  were  replaced.  It  is  unfortunate  that 
instructions  regarding  these  remains  on  Dartmoor  are  not  given  to 
road  contractors ;  stone  in  abundance  is  to  be  found  near  the  roads, 
and  there  is  no  excuse,  other  than  ignorance,  for  the  destruction  of  pre- 
historic monuments.  Although  the  Duchy  possessions  are  of  the  nature 
of  Crown  lands,  and  not  subject  to  the  Highway  Act,  it  has  always  been 
the  policy  of  the  Duchy  to  adopt  the  principles  of  Acts  of  Parliament 
as  far  as  possible,  and  facilities  for  taking  stone  from  unenclosed  lands 
for  the  repair  of  highways  have  invariably  been  given  to  local 
authorities.  With  more  light  the  spoliation  of  our  stone  remains  might 
be  a  matter  of  less  frequent  occurrence  ;  at  present  much  watchfulness 
is  necessary  to  their  preservation. 

f  Combe  Head,  on  the  northern  slope  of  Hookney  Down,  2  m. 
distant,  where  another  branch  of  the  Bovey  rises,  has  also  been  called 
Bovey  Combe  Head.  This,  however,  seems  to  have  arisen  through 
confusing  the  name  with  Cullicombe  Head.  (Ex.  22). 


EXCURSION  21.      POUND   ON   THE   BOVEY.  19 

from  King's  Oven,  and  which  becomes  the  forest  boundary  to  the 
East  Dart.  But  what  about  the  Walla  Brook  flowing  into  the  Teign 
at  Scorhill  ?  By  this  rule,  we  suppose,  that  stream  would  be  the 
"  North  North  "  Walla  Brook.  The  plan  of  arbitrarily  naming  objects 
on  the  moor  is  a  delightful  one  for  getting  over  topographical  diffi- 
culties. 

Keeping  above  the  I/,  bank  of  this  little  stream,  on  the  further 
side  of  which  is  Bush  Down,  sometimes  spoken  of  as  Bush  Down  Heath, 
we  shall  find  ourselves  at  the  distance  of  about  f  m.  from  its  source 
opposite  the  old  workings  of  the  West  Vitifer  Mine.  Soon  after  passing 
these  we  have  below  us  Lakeland  Farm,  which  appears  on  Owen's 
plan  as  Lakelawne,*  and  just  beyond  this,  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and 
about  J  m.  N.  by  W.  of  the  house,  shall  come  upon  a  most  curious  and 
interesting  object.  It  is  a  circular  pound  56  paces  in  diameter,  but 
the  wall  is  totally  unlike  that  usually  found  in  such  structures.  Instead 
of  being  composed  of  stones  laid  in  courses  this  is  formed  of  large 
slabs  set  on  their  edges  in  the  ground,  and  touching  each  other.  On 
the  lower  side  of  this  enclosure,  and  quite  close  to  it,  are  one  or  two 
hut  circles.  The  visitor  who  finds  an  interest  in  the  examination  of  the 
stone  remains  on  the  moor  should  certainly  not  fail  to  visit  this  curious 
object. 

Prom  this  point,  if  our  destination  be  Chagford,  we  may  either 
return  by  striking  N.W.  across  the  common  to  the  road  near  Metheral, 
tinder  £  m.,  and  so  make  our  way  home  by  the  road  on  the  side  of 
Meldon  to  Waye  (S.  Ex.  56,  57),  or  we  may  shorten  the  distance  by 
turning  into  a  track  just  above  the  enclosure  and  following  it  through 
Hurston  and  Higher  Corndon,  as  in  S.  Ex.  58,  to  Meldon  Common. 
A  third  way  is  by  descending  to  the  Bovey  just  below  the  pound,  and 
striking  the  stream  near  a  ridge  of  rock  on  its  eastern  bank  known  as 
Hurston  Castle.  Crossing  it  we  make  our  way  up  the  side  of  the  hill 
by  a  track  running  between  the  enclosures  to  the  common,  and 
following  a  footpath  I,.,  or  N.E.,  direct  to  Jurston  Gate  (see  R.  4  and 
end  of  Ex.  22).  If  bound  for  Moreton  this  will  be  our  course,  but 
instead  of  striking  into  the  footpath  we  shall  keep  due  E.  on  reaching 
the  common,  which  will  bring  us  to  the  Chagford  road.  This  we 
cross,  and  also  the  shallow  valley  through  which  runs  another  branch 
of  the  Bovey  river,  on  the  further  side  of  which  we  climb  up  to  the 
Moreton  road,  which  we  reach  not  far  from  Moor  Gate  (R.  4). 

It  is  satisfactory  to  note  that  although  no  gate  now  exists  at  this 
spot  the  name  by  which  it  was  formerly  known  is  still  retained.  That 
this  has  not  been  so  in  every  case  is  unfortunate.  In  the  Court  Rolls 
of  the  forest  we  meet  with  the  names  of  a  number  of  gates,  and  in 
several  instances  the  places  where  these  stood  cannot  now  be  deter- 
mined with  certainty.  It  is  therefore  important  that  the  names  of  all 
spots  at  which  gates  were  once  to  be  found  should  be  preserved  when 
they  are  known.  The  fact  of  the  gate  being  removed  ought  not  to 
rob  the  place  of  its  name,  for  that  had  reference  to  the  point  of  entry 
upon  the  commons  as  much  as  to  the  actual  gate  itself.  (See  Dictionary 
of  Terms  in  Part  V). 


*  The  edition  of  this  plan  published  in  1720  is  noticed  in  the 
Tracks  Section  in  Part  I. 


ao  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 


Ex.  22. — Bush  Down,  Bennet's  Cross,  Bircn  Tor,  Stone  Row  at 
Headland,  Headland  Warren,  Grim's  Pound  [Hameldon  Tor,  Hamel- 
don  Cross,  Berry  Pound],  Hookney  Down,  Shapley  Common,  Green 
Combe.  Chagford,  n£  m.  ;  Moreton,  14^  m. 

Prom  Chagford  the  way  will  lie  over  the  side  of  Meldon  Common  to 
the  moor  gate  beyond  Jurston  (see  Chagford  to  Jurston  Gate),  and  thence 
along  the  road  to  its  junction  with  the  Princetown  highway ;  from 
Moreton  the  same  point  will  be  reached  by  way  of  Moor  Gate,  beyond 
which  it  is  situated  £  m.  Here  the  road,  for  some  £  m.  onward,  passes 
between  several  small  groups  of  hut  dwellings,  and  a  reave  will  also  be 
seen  on  the  I,,  of  it,  as  well  as  the  remains  of  others.  We  make  our 
way  onward,  with  Birch  Tor  on  the  I,.,  to  Bennet's  Cross,  which  will 
be  seen  on  the  I,,  of  the  road,  f-  m.,  after  passing  the  fifth  milestone 
from  Moreton.  The  cross  is  very  rudely  sculptured,  and  is  leaning 
considerably  on  one  side.  Its  original  purpose  was  probably  to  mark 
the  track  over  the  moor  from  Moreton  to  its  western  side,  on  the  line 
of  which,  as  elsewhere  observed,  the  present  road  was  formed,  but  it 
also  serves  as  a  boundary  mark  between  the  parishes  of  Chagford  and 
North  Bovey.  It  is  possible  that  the  parish  line  determined  its  precise 
situation,  and  that  it  was  set  up  to  serve  the  double  purpose  of  a  guide 
and  a  bondmark.  It  also  forms  one  of  the  tin  bounds  of  Vitifer,  as 
well  as  a  bound  of  Headland  Warren.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XIV.]  The 
letters  W.  B.,  which  are  graven  on  this  cross,  are  supposed  to  stand  for 
Warren  Bounds,  and  similar  letters  may  be  seen  on  a  line  of  bond- 
stones  running  from  it.  But  the  cross,  which  may  have  been  an  ancient 
tin  bound,  was  known  as  Bennet's  Cross  over  two  centuries  since,  and 
it  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  name  of  William  Benet  occurs  in  the  list 
of  jurors  who  attended  a  Tinners'  Parliament  held  on  Crockern  Tor 
in  the  24th  of  Henry  VIII.,  as  a  representative  of  the  Stannary  of 
Chagford. 

Leaving  this  time-worn  object,  which  may  yet  serve  something 
of  that  higher  purpose  doubtless  intended  by  those  who  set  it  up,  we 
shall  strike  across  the  common  in  a  direction  E.S.E.  to  Birch  Tor, 
sometimes  called  Warren  Tor,  which  is  less  than  £  m.  distant.  The 
extensive  workings  of  Birch  Tor  Mine,  once  known  as  the  old  Vitifer 
Mines,  are  on  our  R.  as  we  proceed,  and  some  of  these  we  shall  cross 
on  our  way,  and  also  pass  one  of  the  four  small  newtakes  that  are 
supposed  to  represent  the  aces  in  the  suits  of  cards.  These  four  aces, 
which  are  in  view  from  the  Warren  House  Inn  (Ex.  45),  were  dropped 
by  the  wicked  Jan  Reynolds,  as  related  in  our  account  of  the  sur- 
roundings of  Widecombe  (S.  Ex.  87).  Among  the  workings  of  Birch 
Tor  are  some  very  deep  gullies,  which  are  evidently  of  considerable 
age.  A  curious  circular  shaft,  cased  with  stone  in  the  manner  of  a 
well,  has  given  the  name  of  Walled  Shaft  Gully  to  one  of  these  artificial 
ravines.  Another  shaft  of  a  similar  kind  is  to  be  seen  in  Chough  Gully, 


22  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

locally  Chow,  or  Chaw,  and  so  named  from  the  rare  Cornish  bird 
associated  with  the  spirit  of  King  Arthur.  Southward  of  Birch  Tor 
Mine  is  the  Golden  Dagger  Mine,  briefly  noticed  in  Ex.  44,  and  the 
visitor  will  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  extensive  operations  in  the 
search  for  ore  of  which  the  locality  has  been  the  scene. 

Considerable  mining  enterprise  has  been  shown  in  this  district  by 
Mr.  Moses  Bawden,  to  whom  we  have  already  referred  in  our  notice 
of  the  White  Works,  near  Princetown  (Ex.  3  Part  I). 

We  shall  find  nothing  remarkable  on  Birch  Tor,  but  the  view  from 
it  is  good.  A  few  hut  remains  are  to  be  seen  on  its  slope,  and  on  the 
northern  side  is  a  cairn,  but  it  is  not  of  great  height.  Still  keeping  a 
course  E.S.E.  we  shall  direct  our  steps  towards  an  artificial  cleft  in  the 
ridge  before  us,  and  on  reaching  it  shall  cross  it,  and  keeping  it  on  our  I/, 
make  our  way  up  the  hill.  Here  we  shall  come  upon  a  triple  stone 
row,  the  existence  of  which  was  recorded  in  1830,  but  at  that  time  the 
whole  of  the  stones  composing  it  were  lying  on  the  ground.  A  few 
years  ago  they  were  re-erected,  so  that  the  visitor  has  now  something 
to  look  at,  but  whether  he  will  be  able  to  find  any  interest  in  what  is 
only  a  late  nineteenth  century  erection,  formed  out  of  old  materials  and 
on  an  ancient  plan,  is  another  matter.  No  real  antiquarian  interest  can 
attach  to  such  an  erection  as  this,  at  the  same  time  we  are  constrained 
to  admit  that  re-building  is  preferable  to  allowing  the  stones  to  lie  upon 
the  turf,  and  this  even  at  the  risk  of  its  being  said  (and  it  has  been 
said)  that  on  Dartmoor  you  can  be  supplied  with  stone  monuments 
"  while  you  wait."  The  row  extends  for  about  170  yards,  and  at  its 
southern  end  there  is  a  menhir.  Some  stones  near  by  have  been 
thought  to  be  the  remains  of  other  rows,  of  which,  it  is  considered, 
there  were  originally  eight,  but  the  evidence  of  this  is  not  very  clear. 

Eastward  of  the  ridge  on  which  we  stand,  which  terminates  on 
the  S.  at  Challacombe  Down,  and  on  the  further  side  of  the  valley  of 
the  West  Webburn,  is  a  wide  combe  running  up  between  the  lofty 
Hameldon,  or  Hamel  Down,  on  the  R.,  or  S.,  and  Hookney  Down,  on 
the  I/.,  or  N.  On  one  side  this  combe  is  overlooked  by  Hameldon  Tor, 
and  on  the  other  by  Hookney  Tor,  and  between  these  piles,  neither  of 
•which  is  of  striking  proportions,  is  the  large  circular  enclosure  known 
as  Grim's  Pound,  and  which  is  in  full  view  and  not  more  than  \  m. 
distant.  To  this  we  shall  now  make  our  way,  and  on  reaching  the 
valley  shall  pass  through  the  old  workings  of  Headland  Mine,  with 
Headland  Warren  House  on  the  L.  The  situation  of  this  lonely  dwell- 
ing is  hardly  one  that  would  be  deemed  suitable  for  a  hostelry,  but 
such,  nevertheless,  the  house  once  was,  rejoicing  in  the  name  of  the 
Birch  Tor  Inn,  and  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  mines  in  its  vicinity  did 
not  lack  support.*  The  house  was  at  one  time  kept  by  John  Roberts, 
a  noted  character  in  this  part  of  the  moor.  In  Mrs.  Bray's  Tamar  and 
Tavy  there  is  an  extract  from  Mr.  Bray's  Journal,  of  the  27th  July,  1831, 
on  which  day  he  visited  Newhouse.  He  speaks  of  a  sign  that  he  was 
told  was  once  to  be  seen  there  on  which  an  invitation  was  held  out  to 
the  traveller,  and  which,  he  says,  he  thinks  he  must  himself  have  seen 
when  a  boy.  But  from  enquiries  that  I  made  in  the  neighbourhood 
nearly  forty  years  ago  of  old  men  who  had  been  born  and  had  lived  all 

*  At  Challacombe,  i  m.  S.,  are  the  ruins  of  a  building  also  said 
to  have  been  a  beer-house. 


EXCURSION  22.      THE    WARREN    HOUSE    INN.          23 

their  days  on  the  moor,  I  am  of  opinion  that  Mr.  Bray  was  misinformed, 
and  that  the  sign  was  not  to  be  seen  at  Newhouse,  but  at  Headland. 
It  ran  thus  : — 

"Jan  Roberts  lives  here, 

Sells  cider  and  beer, 

Your  hearts  for  to  cheer  ; 

And  if  you  want  meat 

To  make  up  a  treat 

Here  be  rabbits  to  eat." 

In  this  house  for  many  years  resided  the  late  tenant  of  the  Warren, 
James  Hannaford,  who  died  in  1899,  and  was  buried  at  Widecombe, 
the  coffin  being  borne  over  the  great  ridge  of  Hameldon.  He  was  the 
son  of  John  Hannaford,  who,  early  in  the  nineteenth  century,  lived  at 
Bear  Down,  and  who  died  in  1868,  aged  94  ;  we  have  referred  to  him  in 
Ex.  5.  Several  years  ago  an  adventure  befel  James  Hannaford,  when 
he  was  crossing  the  common  one  dark  night  from  the  Warren  House 
Inn  to  his  home  at  Headland.  He  approached  so  near  to  the  edge 
of  one  of  the  old  shafts  of  which  we  have  spoken,  that  the  earth  gave 
way  and  he  fell  in.  Fortunately  he  was  caught  in  some  woodwork, 
and  contrived  to  find  a  resting-place  upon  it.  He  could  see  nothing, 
but  heard  the  dripping  of  water  below.  His  faithful  collie  remained  on 
the  brink  of  the  shaft  during  the  whole  of  the  night  and  the  following 
day,  and  gave  evidence  by  his  piteous  whining  that  he  knew  his  master 
was  in  peril.  His  furious  barking  at  length  attracted  the  attention  of 
a  search  party,  and  with  every  manifestation  of  delight  the  trusty 
animal  led  them  to  the  shaft  down  which  his  master  had  fallen.  J  ames 
Hannaford  was  rescued  from  his  perilous  position,  but  exposure 
to  the  cold  during  that  long  night  and  day  so  affected  him  that  he 
was  ever  after  crippled.  But  he  lived  for  many  years,  and  never 
forgot  that  he  owed  his  life  to  his  faithful  dog. 

Climbing  the  further  side  of  the  valley  we  speedily  reach  the  road 
running  from  the  Princetown  highway  to  Grendon,  Blackaton,  and 
Cator  (R.  33).  Near  the  spot  where  we  strike  this  it  is  carried  over  a 
little  stream  called  Grim's  Lake,  at  Firth  Bridge.  By  following  up 
this  stream  we  shall  be  led  directly  to  the  great  hut  enclosure  we  saw 
from  the  hill. 

Grim's  Pound  is  a  fine  example  of  a  walled  hut  cluster,  but  is  not 
more  interesting  than  others  on  the  moor,  notably  those  existing  in 
the  valleys  of  the  Avon,  Erme,  and  Yealm  (Exs.  29  to  34),  and  more- 
over there  are  some  that  are  larger.  But  not  one  possesses  so  fine  a 
rampart,  and  it  is  this  feature  that  renders  the  pound  so  striking.  It 
encloses  a  space  of  about  four  acres,  the  wall  measuring  over  500  yards 
in  circumferance.  The  stones  composing  this  are  very  massive,  and, 
as  a  slight  examination  will  reveal,  were  laid  in  courses.  It  was  really 
a  double  wall  that  ran  around  this  area  where  the  huts  were  grouped, 
the  space  between  the  two  probably  being  filled  with  earth.  Judging 
from  the  quantity  of  stones  these  walls  were  carried  to  a  height  of 
about  six  feet,  and  upon  this  there  is  little  doubt  turf  was  piled,  the 
plan  of  construction,  to  compare  small  things  with  great,  being  not 
unlike  that  of  the  walls  of  Babylon.  For  a  long  time  the  entrance  to 
Grim's  Pound  was  a  disputed  point,  the  lower  break  in  the  wall  being 
thought  by  some  to  be  the  original  gateway.  But  a  careful  examination 
proved  that  this  was  on  the  S.E.  side,  as  had  been  shown  on  a  plan. 


24  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

made  in  1829,  and  the  stones  being  cleared  away,  and  then  placed  in 
the  positions  it  was  imagined  they  once  occupied,  the  result  was  the 
entrance  upon  which  the  visitor  looks  to-day.  At  one  time  a  secret 
passage  leading  through  the  wall  was  talked  of.  My  eye  of  faith  was 
never  piercing  enough  to  allow  me  to  see  it.  The  wal],  which  is  now 
a  mere  ring  of  great  stones,  is  only  about  four  or  five  feet  in  height ; 
it  appears  to  have  been  about  eight  or  ten  feet  in  width,  but  the  fallen 
blocks  being  scattered  this  is  now  much  greater.  When  in  a  complete 
state  such  a  barrier  would  ensure  the  safety  of  cattle  against  the 
attacks  of  wolves  or  other  wild  animals,  and  prove  a  protection  for  the 
settlers  in  case  of  a  foray.  There  are  the  ruins  of  twenty-four  hut 
dwellings  in  the  pound,  some  of  them,  however,  being  in  a  very 
dilapidated  condition,  and  two  or  three  small  enclosures,  resembling 
courts,  may  be  seen  on  the  inner  side  of  the  wall.  The  hut  in  the 
centre  was  cleared  some  years  ago  in  order  that  the  internal  arrange- 
ments might  be  seen,  and  the  iron  hurdles  placed  round  it  to  protect 
it  from  injury  by  cattle.  [Gems,  Chap.  VIII.] 

It  has  been  suggested  that  Grim  was  the  name  of  a  viking,  who, 
having  forced  his  way  into  the  heart  of  the  moor,  erected  this  strong- 
hold. The  name  has  also  been  considered  to  be  a  corruption  of  Graham, 
or  Graeme.  As  there  is  not  the  slightest  proof  that  the  Scandinavian 
rovers  ever  visited  Dartmoor,  the  first  suggestion  is,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  a  very  improbable  one,  nor  does  there  appear  any  reason  whatever 
for  the  second.  By  some  the  name  has  been  traced  to  Grima,  an 
Anglo-Saxon  word  for  the  Evil  One,  a  derivation  which  at  least  pos 
sesses  the  merit  of  being  as  probable  as  either  of  the  others.  It  has 
been  the  fashion  to  regard  Grim's  Pound  as  having  something  very 
mysterious  about  it,  this,  no  doubt,  arising  in  great  measure  from 
the  accounts  given  of  the  pound  by  the  older  antiquaries,  who,  not 
knowing  the  moor  well,  imagined  it  to  be  almost  the  only  thing  of  its 
kind  upon  it.  They  entered  into  the  wildest  speculations  concerning 
it,  regarding  it,  among  other  things,  as  a  temple  of  the  Sun,  and  a  seat 
of  judicature.  But  Grim's  Pound  is  just  what  other  similar  enclosures 
on  the  moor  are,  a  place  of  security  for  cattle,  and  one  in  which  men 
could  seek  safety  if  the  necessity  for  doing  so  arose.  The  fact  of  the 
wall  being  formed  of  blocks  more  massive  than  were  usually  employed 
for  the  purpose  merely  shows  that  the  site  chosen  for  the  pound 
happened  to  be  strewn  with  lumps  of  granite  of  an  extraordinary  size. 
There  would,  of  course,  be  much  difficulty  in  moving  these,  but  we  can 
well  suppose  that  a  large  number  of  men  were  employed  on  the  task. 
The  Roman  soldiers  as  we  know  never  encamped  even  for  a  single 
night  without  digging  a  ditch  and  throwing  up  a  rampart,  and  while 
it  is  certain  that  the  neolithic  men  of  Dartmoor,  probably  having  no 
cause  for  haste,  and  working  with  heavy  material,  exhibited  no  such 
expedition,  there  is  no  reason  for  supposing  that  they  were  very  long 
in  building  their  huts  and  enclosures. 

[Hameldon  is  described  in  the  Bovey  Tracey  District,  but  the 
visitor  will  find  in  the  Shorter  Excursions  which  follow,  directions  for 
reaching  Hameldon  Cross  from  Hameldon  Tor,  and  also  Berry  Pound. 
In  the  Shorter  Excursions  instructions  are  also  given  for  reaching  Grim's 
Pound  direct  from  Chagford  and  Moreton  and  from  North  Bovey.] 

Grim's  Pound  is  situated  almost  entirely  in  the  parish  of  Manaton, 
but  that  part  of  the  wall  below  Hookney  Tor  is  in  the  parish  of  North 


EXCURSION  22.     OBJECTS   NEAR   GRIM'S   POUND  25 

Bovey,  the  little  Grim's  Lake  acting  as  a  boundary  between  the  two 
From  its  head  eastward  the  line  is  marked  by  boundary  stones,  and 
runs  under  King's  Barrow,  our  next  point.  This  is  rather  over  \  m. 
N.E.  by  E.  of  the  pound.  We  may  either  make  our  way  to  it  direct, 
or,  if  we  prefer  it,  first  climb  the  slope  to  Hookney  Tor,  whence  we 
have  a  good  view  of  Grim's  Pound.  The  tor  consists  of  several  small 
piles  of  rock,  and  close  to  it  is  a  cairn.  The  range  of  hills  forming  the 
southern  part  of  Dartmoor  is  distinctly  visible,  and  looking  through 
the  opening  formed  by  Hameldon  on  one  hand,  and  Challacombe 
Down  on  the  other,  we  see  far  away  in  the  distance  the  peak  of  Brent 
Hill  rising  beyond  Buckfastleigh  Moor,  below  which  are  the  plantations 
of  Hayford.  In  a  south-westerly  direction  South  Hisworthy  and 
North  Hisworthy  are  seen,  and  W.  by  S.  the  rocks  of  White  Tor. 
Siddaford  is  in  full  view  W.  by  N. 

Prom  Hookney  Tor  to  King's  Barrow  the  distance  is  f-  m.,  the 
direction  being  E.  by  N.  The  cairn  here  is  not  a  large  one,  and  as  will 
be  seen,  has  been  opened.  A  little  to  the  W.  of  it  is  a  kistvaen  within 
a  circle  of  stones.  The  few  rocks  near  by  are  known  as  King  Tor. 
From  this  point  we  look  down  over  the  northern  slope  of  Hookney 
Down  and  across  Combe  Head  to  Westcombe  Down,  on  which  is 
situated  the  East  Vitifer  Mine.  At  the  head  of  this  combe  are  some 
hut  circles,  one  of  them  being  enclosed  by  a  low  wall,  and  presenting 
a  somewhat  similar  appearance  to  the  Round  Pound  at  Batworthy. 
This  we  shall  come  upon  if  we  make  our  way  over  Hookney  Down  to 
Shapley  Tor,  pursuing  a  W.N.W.  course.  It  is  about  \  m.  from  King's 
Barrow,  and  close  to  a  path  running  eastward  from  near  Bennet's  Cross 
to  the  north  of  Birch  Tor,  and  thence  to  the  mine  above  mentioned 
and  to  Westcombe,  from  which  place  there  is  a  road  to  North  Bovey. 
This  seems  to  be  the  hut  mentioned  many  years  ago  by  Mr.  Ormerod 
as  existing  near  what  he  called  Bovey  Combe  Head,  but  he  is  not 
very  definite  about  its  situation  and  may  have  meant  Cullicombe 
Head. 

Having  visited  Shapley  Tor,  1,597  feet,  we  strike  due  W.  down 
the  slope  to  the  road,  in  order  to  examine  a  few  hut  circles  near  it 
These  will  be  found  on  either  hand,  but  it  is  the  huts  on  its  western 
side,  or  L.  as  we  proceed  northward,  that  will  particularly  claim  our 
attention.  They  are  situated  in  Green  Combe,  near  the  head  of  a 
small  tributary  of  the  Bovey,  and  the  visitor  will  not  fail  to  be  struck 
with  the  massive  stones  of  which  they  are  formed.  The  huge  slabs 
of  granite  of  which  one  is  built  gives  it  quite  a  different  appearance 
from  the  ordinary  hut  dwellings  on  the  moor.  When  the  rambler 
visits  the  Yealm,  and  sees  the  hut  circles  there  with  walls  formed  of 
stone  and  turf  ten  feet  thick,  and  compares  them  with  the  present 
examples,  and  with  others  he  may  have  observed,  he  will  see  that  the 
ancient  dwellings  on  Dartmoor,  though  all  of  one  general  plan,  differ 
very  materially  in  certain  details. 

Following  the  road  northward  we  speedily  arrive  at  the  Princetown 
highway,  where,  if  our  destination  be  Moreton,  we  turn  R.  to  Moor 
Gate,  from  which  point  we  shall  make  our  way  to  the  town  as  described 
in  R.  4.  If  bound  for  Chagford  we  cross  the  road,  and  also  the  little 
valley  in  front  of  us,  our  course  being  a  trifle  W.  of  N.,  to  the  road 
running  to  that  town,  which  will  lead  us  very  shortly  to  Jurston  Gate. 
We  descend  the  hill,  as  in  R.  4,  and  turn  R.  or  E.  towards  Jurston 


36  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 

Farm,  soon  after  passing  which  we  cross  the  Bovey  at  Jurston  Bridge. 
A  short  distance  further  on  is  Jurston  Cross,  where  a  guide-post  will 
show  us  that  our  way  lies  up  the  hill  N.  Keeping  Meldon  Common  I/- 
we  soon  reach  Meldon  Hall,  beyond  which  we  descend  the  road  between 
Padley  Common  and  Nattadon  to  Chagford. 


Shorter  Excursions. 

S.  Ex.  48. — Throwleigh  and  Shilstone,  8^  m.  To  Chagford  Bridge 
and  up  Walland  Hill  to  Murchington.  Turn  R.  at  the  guide-post  to 
Higher  Murchington,  then  turn  L.  and  follow  the  road  down  to  the 
Blackaton  Brook.  Cross  Wonson  Mill  Bridge  (the  road  L.  runs  down 
to  Blackaton  Bridge  and  up  to  Gidleigh)  and  climb  the  hill  to  Providence 
Place,  a  short  distance  beyond  which  a  road  turns  R.  (guide-post),  which 
will  bring  the  visitor  to  Wonson,  a  small  hamlet  named  after  the  manor 
house  near  by.  (A  footpath  will  be  seen  on  the  R.  just  after  crossing 
the  bridge,  which  may  be  followed  instead  of  the  road.  It  leads  to  a 
lane  running  by  the  manor  house  to  the  hamlet).  Quite  near  to  the 
New  Inn  the  ancient  entrance  to  Wonson  Manor  will  be  seen. 

From  Wonson  the  road  runs  north-westward  to  Throwleigh, 
$•  m.  distant.  Another  route  to  it  is  by  way  of  Deave  L,ane  (S.  Ex.  46). 
Instead  of  turning  R.  shortly  before  reaching  Wonson,  the  visitor 
continues  onward  to  Cross  Park  Cottage,  and  there  turns  R.  into  the 
lane  mentioned,  which  leads  direct  to  the  village.  Near  Cross  Park 
Cottage  is  the  hamlet  of  Forder,  where  may  be  seen  a  good  example 
of  the  old  manner  of  hanging  gates  to  which  we  have  more  than  once 
referred.  From  Throwleigh  the  road  leading  upward  to  Shilstone 
has  been  described  in  S.  Ex.  46,  and  Throwleigh  Common  and  Shilstone 
Tor  in  Ex.  18.  On  reaching  the  verge  of  the  moor  at  Shilstone  the 
visitor  will  turn  southward,  and  follow  the  road  very  nearly  to  the 
Forder  Brook.  Here  a  track  I,,  is  carried  down  beside  it  to  a  lane, 
by  which  he  will  be  led  past  Ash  to  Forder.  Here  turn  R.,  and  at 
the  fork  of  the  roads,  where  is  a  guide  post,  take  the  L.  branch  to 
Chappie.  Beyond  this  Chappie  Brook  is  crossed,  and  the  road  followed 
southward  to  Gidleigh. 

Instead  of  turning  down  by  the  Forder  Brook  after  leaving  Shil- 
stone the  rambler  may  follow  the  road  past  Great  and  Little  Ensworthy 
and  Moortown,  and  reach  Gidleigh  as  described  in  R.  24.  The  way 
from  Gidleigh  to  Chagford  is  also  given  in  that  route. 

S.  Ex.  49. — Gidleigh,  ^\  m.  The  road  from  Chagford  to  Gidleigh 
has  been  described.  Gidleigh  is  a  small  village,  consisting  of  a  church, 
the  ruins  of  an  ancient  castle,  a  manor  house,  a  few  cottages,  and  a 
modern  dwelling.  The  church  is  eminently  characteristic  of  a  Dart- 
moor sanctuary,  granite  having  been  employed  not  only  in  the  edifice 
itself,  but  also  in  its  furnishings,  the  pulpit,  lecterns  and  reredos  being 
of  this  material.  Not  far  off  is  the  manor  house,  and  quite  near  to 
this  the  remains  of  the  castle,  which  is  of  fourteenth  century  date.  That 
it  was  larger  than  has  usually  been  supposed  is  proved  by  the  discovery 
of  the  foundations  of  ancient  walls  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  but  at 
the  same  time  it  is  not  likely  that  it  was  ever  a  very  extensive  building. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton.  27 

[Gems,  Chap.  VI.]  The  remains  consist  of  a  square  tower,  with  a  'ower 
chamber  with  steps  leading  to  an  upper  apartment,  in  whirh  is  a  fire- 
place. At  what  period  the  Gidleys  came  into  possession  of  the  manor 
is  not  certain,  although  it  was  probably  very  early. 

The  manor  was  purchased  in  1819  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whipham, 
and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  Mr.  A.  Guy  Whipham. 
of  Gidleigh  Park.  This  park,  together  with  the  adjoining  property 
of  Scorhill,  once  formed  part  of  the  ancient  Gidleigh  Chase.  It  is 
briefly  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  50.  [Gems,  Chap.  VI.] 

On  leaving  the  castle  the  visitor  will  notice  an  old  well  by  the 
roadside,  just  opposite  to  the  manor  house  gate.  [Dev.  Alps,  Chap. 
IX.]  It  is  covered  with  granite  slabs,  and  granite  steps  lead  down  ta 
it.  The  way  now  lies  by  the  manor  pound,  which  has  already  received 
mention.  Turn  L.  up  the  hill,  as  in  Ex.  19.  Just  after  passing  the 
second  sharp  turning  in  the  road  a  gateway  will  be  noticed  R.,  in  which 
the  primitive  method  of  fixing  the  bars  between  the  upright  granite 
posts  is  seen.  Looking  across  the  field  the  visitor  has  a  view  of  the 
Rectory.  A  little  further  a  road  runs  R.  to  this,  and  to  Moortown. 
and  Ensworthy  (Ex.  18).  A  few  steps  more  and  the  visitor  will  reach 
Creber  Pound,  and  make  his  way  up  to  the  moor  by  South  and  North 
Creber  Farms,  Ex.  19.  On  reaching  the  common  turn  L.  outside  the 
enclosures,  and  by  keeping  close  to  the  wall  the  head  of  Berry  Down. 
Stroll  is  reached  (Ex.  19).  The  visitor  will  make  his  way  down  this 
and  at  the  bottom  may  either  re-enter  Creber  Pound  and  return  to 
Gidleigh,  or  take  the  lane  R.  and  passing  Berry  Down,  follow  it  down 
to  Highbury  Bridge. 

Instead  of  returning  through  Murchington  the  v  sitor  will  find  it 
a  pleasant  walk  to  go  by  way  of  Leigh  Steps  and  Leigh  Bridge.  Just 
before  Murchington  is  reached  there  is  a  cross  road,  the  R.  one  leading 
towards  the  valley  of  the  Teign.  Into  this  the  visitor  will  turn,  and 
it  will  bring  him  to  a  narrow  pathway  by  which  he  will  descend  the 
hill  to  the  steps,  where  he  will  cross  the  river.  Another  path,  running 
on  the  R.  bank,  leads  to  Leigh  Bridge,  immediately  below  which  the 
North  and  South  Teign  unite.  Between  the  steps  and  the  bridge  a 
road  branches  to  Gidleigh  Park,  being  carried  over  the  North  Teign  at 
Gidleigh  Park  Bridge.  On  crossing  Leigh  Bridge,  which  is  placed  in 
the  midst  of  charming  scenery,  the  rambler  ascends  the  hill,  passing 
near  the  Puggie,  or  Puckie,  Stone — the  name  probably  being  a  corrupt- 
ion of  Pixy — which  overlooks  the  river  L.  Very  soon  he  will  descend 
towards  Holy  Street  (pronounced  Holly),  and  at  the  bend  of  the  road 
near  it  will  pass  an  old  cross  built  into  the  wall.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XIII.] 
The  picturesque  old  mill  that  formerly  stood  near  Holy  Street,  and 
formed  a  favourite  subject  with  so  many  artists,  has  now  disappeared. 
The  road  here  runs  by  the  side  of  a  mill  stream  to  the  old  woollen 
factory  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  leading  to  Chagford. 

S.  Ex.  50. — Gidleigh  Chase  and  Teigncombe,  7  m.  The  first 
point  is  Highbury  Bridge,  whence  the  rambler  will  ascend  the  road 
towards  Gidleigh,  but  instead  of  turning  R.  to  the  village,  will  continue 
straight  up  the  lane  to  Berry  Down.  Gidleigh  Chase,  or  that  part  of 
it  now  comprising  the  park  and  Scorhill,  is  situated  on  the  L.  as  the 
visitor  ascends  ;  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  formerly  of  much  greater 
extent,  and  lay  open  to  the  forest.  Just  before  reaching  Berry  Down 


28  Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

a  gate  on  the  L.  will  enable  him  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  part  of  it,  with 
a  view  also  of  Gidleigh  Tor,  more  generally  known  as  Prinsep's  Folly. 
[Gems,  Chap.  VI.]  On  this  tor  are  the  remains  of  a  house.  This  fine 
hill  we  shall  see  to  great  advantage  when  we  reach  the  southern  side 
of  the  river. 

Passing  Berry  Down  the  visitor  will  make  his  way  up  the  stroll, 
and  when  about  J  m.  from  the  bottom  of  it  will  reach  an  iron  gate  on 
the  L.  This  is  an  entrance  to  Scorhill  and  also  a  church  path  (T.  44). 
The  visitor  will  follow  it  to  Scorhill  House,  a  romantically  situated 
residence,  which  cannot,  however,  boast  of  much  antiquity.  It  for- 
merly belonged  to  Mr.  Rowe,  of  Berry  Down,  from  whom  it  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Stark,  who  sold  it  to  its  present  holder,  the  Rev.  E.  B. 
Layard.  Passing  the  house  the  visitor  will  descend  to  the  North  Teign 
which  he  will  cross  where  that  stream  forms  an  island,  the  channel  on 
each  side  being  spanned  by  a  clam.  As  he  makes  his  way  up  the  side 
of  the  common  in  an  easterly  direction,  a  view  of  the  chase  will  unfold 
itself  L.  Very  soon  he  will  reach  the  road  near  the  Round  Pound 
(Ex.  20),  and  may  either  follow  this  L,.  to  the  moor  gate  or  cross  it, 
and  proceeding  E.  enter  the  short  stroll  leading  to  Teigncombe  Common 
Lane,  which,  being  strewn  with  boulders  and  more  nearly  resembling 
the  bed  of  a  stream  than  a  track,  has  been  playfully  dubbed  Featherbed 
Lane.  Near  the  gateway  at  Teigncombe  some  holed  stones  similar 
to  the  one  we  observed  at  Fernworthy  may  be  seen  ;  one  of  these  has 
a  square  hole,  the  other  a  round  one.  Here  also  are  the  remains  of  a 
chapel,  one  of  three  formerly  existing  in  the  parish.  Instead  of 
turning  R.  to  Yeo  Bridge  and  following  the  road  to  Chagford  past 
Thorn  and  Waye,  the  visitor  will  make  his  way  down  North  Hill 
Lane,  where  he  will  notice  another  holed  stone.  As  he  descends 
he  will  have  a  good  view  of  the  wild  chase,  where  oaks  and  hollies 
clothe  the  slopes,  and  also  of  Gidleigh  Tor,  which  crowns  a  heather- 
clad  hill  rising  boldly  above  the  surrounding  wood.  In  about  £  m. 
from  Teigncombe  the  rambler  will  reach  Leigh  Bridge,  when  he  will 
have  completed  the  circuit  of  the  chase.  From  this  point  the  road  to 
Chagford  has  been  described  (S.  Ex.  49). 

S.  Ex.  51. — Scorhill  Circle,  Holed  Stone  in  the  Teign,  Batworthy, 
and  Teigncombe,  8  m.  To  Berry  Down  Stroll,  as  in  the  preceding 
excursion.  Instead  of  turning  into  the  path  L.  to  Scorhill  House, 
the  visitor  will  continue  to  the  end  of  the  stroll,  and  will  then  turn  L. 
and  follow  the  wall  of  the  enclosure.  This  he  will  notice  is  higher 
and  more  carefully  built  than  the  ordinary  newtake  walls,  and  is  also 
furnished  with  a  coping.  Very  soon  he  will  reach  another  entrance 
to  the  Scorhill  grounds,  where  is  an  iron  gate  similar  to  the  one  in  the 
stroll.  This,  however,  is  but  very  little  used.  A  ruined  farmhouse 
will  be  noticed  just  within  the  lower  wall.  Here  the  rambler  turns  R., 
and  on  reaching  a  leat,  the  same  he  saw  in  the  stroll,  and  also  at  Rue 
Lake  (Ex.  19),  will  follow  it  to  Scorhill  Tor,  or  as  the  pile  is  usually 
termed,  Scorhill  Rocks.  Thence  the  leat  will  become  his  guide  over 
Scorhill  Down  to  the  stone  circle  described  in  Ex.  19.  (The  circle 
may  be  reached  direct  from  the  head  of  Berry  Down  Stroll,  S.W.  by 
W.,  or  Scorhill  Hill,  1,323  feet,  the  distance  being  ^  m.)  From  the 
circle  the  visitor  will  make  his  way  down  to  the  North  Teign  to  examine 
the  Holed  Stone,  and  the  single  stone  clapper  known  as  Walla  Brook 
Bridge  (Ex.  19).  Crossing  the  river  at  Teign  Clapper  he  will  pass  up 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton.  29 

the  side  of  Shovel  Down,  with  the  enclosures  of  Batworthy  L.,  to 
Batworthy  Corner.  The  Shovel  Down  antiquities,  which  are  near  by, 
are  described  in  Ex.  20.  The  return  may  be  by  way  of  the  road  N.E. 
past  the  Round  Pound  to  the  moor  gate  at  Brimstone  Down,  or  the 
rambler  may  strike  up  over  the  common  E.  from  the  Round  Pound 
to  Teigncombe  Common  Lane,  as  described  in  S.  Ex.  50. 

S.  Ex.  52. — Watern  Tor,  direct,  n  m.  To  Teigncombe,  either  by 
way  of  Yeo  Bridge,  or  Leigh  Bridge.  Prom  the  hamlet  the  moor  may 
be  reached  by  going  up  Teigncombe  Common  Lane  (S.  Ex.  50),  or 
by  the  gate  at  Brimstone  Down.  The  next  point  is  Batworthy 
Corner,  S.W.  of  the  moor  end  of  the  lane,  and  approached  by  road 
from  the  gate  (Ex.  20).  Watern  Tor  bears  W.  by  N.  from  the  corner, 
from  which  it  is  distant  2  m.,  and  is  seen  rising  conspicuously  from 
the  lofty  ridge  on  which  it  is  placed.  But  as  to  make  a  bee-line 
towards  it  would  necessitate  crossing  the  Teign  at  a  point  where  it 
might  not  be  convenient  to  do  so,  it  will  be  best  for  the  rambler  to 
make  his  way  down  the  side  of  Shovel  Down,  with  the  Batworthy 
enclosures  R.,  to  Teign  Clapper  (Ex.  19).  Having  crossed  the  Teign 
here  he  will  turn  L.  to  Walla  Brook  Bridge,  where  he  will  cross  that 
stream,  and  thus  find  himself  in  the  forks  formed  by  the  two.  From 
this  point  Watern  Tor  bears  a  little  S.  of  W.,  and  is  i£  m.  distant. 
As  the  ground  is  here  in  places  rather  swampy  it  may  not  be  possible 
to  follow  a  perfectly  direct  course  to  the  tor,  but  the  rambler  will  find 
that  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  diverge  far  from  it.  The  tor  is  described 
in  Ex.  19. 

Watern  Tor.  Wild  Tor 


FROM  WAI,I,A   BROOK   CLAPPER,    BOOKING   WEST. 

S.  Ex.  53. — The  Grey  Wethers,  direct,  13  m.  The  road  is  followed 
to  Metheral,  as  already  described,  and  thence  to  Pernworthy,  from 
which  place  the  route  is  given  in  Ex.  20.  If  the  return  is  made  the 
same  way  the  course  to  be  followed  from  the  circles  is  N.E.  for  about 
i  m.,  when  the  rambler  will  bear  R.  to  Fernworthy. 

S.  Ex.  54. — Teignhead  Farm,  direct,  13  m.  This  is  described  in 
Ex.  19.  There  is  little  difference  in  the  distance  between  the  Teign- 
combe route,  or  that  by  Metheral.  If  the  rambler  chooses  the  latter 
he  will  first  make  his  way  to  the  top  of  the  lane  at  Fernworthy,  as 
in  S.  Ex.  53  ;  see  also  Ex.  20.  From  the  circle  on  Froggymead  Hill 


30  Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

the  course  is  a  trifle  N.  of  W.,  and  the  distance  to  Teignhead  Bridge 
about  i  m.  The  return  by  way  of  Stonetor  Hill  and  Batworthy 
Corner  to  Teigncombe  is  given  at  the  end  of  Ex.  20. 

S.  Ex.  55. — Kes  Tor  and  the  Shovel  Down  Antiquities,  6$  m.  The 
first  point  is  Teigncombe,  which  may  be  reached  by  way  of  Leigh 
Bridge,  or  by  the  road  past  Waye  and  Thorn.  The  latter  will  take 
the  rambler  by  Yeo  Mill,  which  being  near  South  Hill  probably  occupies 
the  same  site  as  one  mentioned  in  a  forester's  account  of  the  year  1491, 
in  which  is  an  entry  of  "  6d.  of  new  rent  of  John  Wille,  of  Hille,  for 
having  a  course  of  water  from  the  water  of  Teign  within  the  Forest 
of  Dartmoor  across  the  land  of  the  Forest  aforesaid,  and  venville,  to 
the  mill  of  the  said  John  at  Stouthill,  within  the  parish  of  Chagford, 
to  have  and  occupy  the  aforesaid  watercourse  to  the  aforesaid  John, 
his  heirs,  and  his  assigns,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Forest,  as 
appears  on  the  Court  Rolls." 

Leaving  Yeo  Mill  the  rambler  will  pass  through  Teigncombe,  and 
make  his  way  up  the  lane  to  the  commons,  which  latter  he  will  reach 
very  near  to  Kes  Tor,  1,433  feet,  a  rock  mass  which  has  been  almost 
constantly  in  view  during  his  wanderings  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Chagford.  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  tor  may  have  derived  its 
name  from  the  Celtic  kist,  i.e.,  chest,  which,  indeed,  is  not  improbable, 
as  its  square  form  certainly  gives  it  a  resemblance  to  such  an  object. 
Though  not  of  great  size  Kes  Tor  is  nevertheless  striking  in  appearance, 
its  situation  contributing  greatly  to  this.  The  view  from  it  is  very 
fine,  and  embraces  many  of  the  prominent  hills  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  moor,  as  well  as  a  wide  extent  of  cultivated  country.  Cosdon 
lifts  up  his  great  rounded  form  towards  the  N.  (Okehampton  District) ; 
the  rocks  of  Wild  Tor  and  Watern  Tor  (Ex.  19)  rise  from  the  dusky 
ridges  westward,  and  beyond  the  latter  is  Newtake,  overlooking  the 
morasses  of  Cranmere.  White  Horse  Hill  is  seen  L.  of  this,  and  due 
S.  are  Hurston  Ridge  and  Assacombe  Hill.  Away  to  the  S.E.  is  Hey 
Tor,  seen  to  the  L.  of  Hameldon  (Bovey  Tracey  District),  and  L.  of  this, 
but  much  nearer  to  us,  the  hill  known  as  East  Down,  or  Easdon 
(S.  Ex.  61),  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Widecombe  Valley.  Turning 
from  the  moor  the  visitor  will  look  down  upon  Gidleigh  Chase  and 
Chagford,  and  will  mark  the  entrance  to  the  gieat  gorge  of  Fingle 
(S.  Ex.  66,  67).  Far  away  beyond  the  Teign  is  Haldon,  and  looming 
indistinctly  against  the  northern  sky  the  hills  of  Exmoor. 

There  are  several  rock  basins  on  Kes  Tor,  but  one  is  particularly 
noticeable,  being  by  far  the  largest  on  the  moor.  Previous  to  1856 
its  existence  was  unknown,  as  it  had  been  filled  with  earth,  probably 
being  regarded  as  dangerous  to  sheep  or  cattle.  In  that  year  it  was 
discovered  by  Mr.  Ormerod,  and  on  its  being  cleared  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  surround  it  with  an  iron  rail.  Its  longer  diameter  at  the 
top  is  about  i\  feet ;  the  sides  are  sloping,  the  diameter  at  the  bottom 
being  about  2  feet.  It  is  just  over  2^  feet  in  depth. 

The  Shovel  Down  stone  rows  commence  to  the  W.S.W.  of  the  tor, 
and  are  less  than  £  m.  from  it.  For  a  description  of  these  see  Ex.  20. 

On  returning  from  Kes  Tor  the  rambler  may  either  strike  due 
N.  for  about  \  m.,  and  then  bear  R.  to  the  stroll  at  the  head  of  Teign- 
combe Common  Lane  :  or  N.  by  W.  to  the  Round  Pound,  thence 
following  the  road  R.  over  Brimstone  Down  to  Teigncombe  hamlet. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton.  31 

S.  Ex.  56. — Frenchbere  and  Thornworthy,  7-^  m.  To  Yeo  Bridge  by 
Waye  Barton  (S.  Ex.  55).  On  crossing  this  the  visitor  will  turn  up  the 
"hill  L.,  and  in  about  £  m.  will  reach  the  farm  of  Great  Frenchbere  ; 
he  will  notice  some  holed  stones  built  into  the  wall  of  the  enclosures 
as  he  proceeds.  Passing  the  farm  he  will  enter  upon  the  common, 
with  Frenchbere  Tor  a  little  in  advance  of  him  on  the  R.  Before 
reaching  this  he  will  notice  a  hut  circle.  From  the  tor  he  will  bear 
southward  to  Thornworthy,  in  the  walls  of  the  enclosures  of  which 
are  some  more  circular  holed  stones.  Some  of  these  may  be  unfinished 
millstones,  left  by  those  engaged  in  cutting  them  in  consequence  of 
the  stone  being  found  to  be  unsuitable  for  the  intended  purpose,  and 
others  were  perhaps  used  by  tinners,  being  similar  to  those  at  Riddy 
Pit,  noticed  in  Ex.  2.  Others  may  be  seen  in  different  parts  of 
the  moor.  Below  Thornworthy,  in  the  narrow  glen  through  which 
the  South  Teign  leaves  the  wastes  through  which  its  earlier  course 
has  led  it,  is  the  stream-work  and  blowing-house  referred  to  in  Ex.  21. 
There  are  in  fact  two  mining  buildings,  and  a  good  example  of  a  trough 
and  mould-stone.  A  similar  story  attaches  to  these  old  houses  to 
the  one  related  of  Snails'  House,  in  Lough  Tor  Hole,  on  the  East  Dart. 
(See  Ex.  44,  Part  I ;  Ex.  30,  Part  IV ;  and  Dev,  Alps,  Chap.  IV).  On 
Thornworthy  Down  is  Thornworthy  Tor,  less  than  £  m.  W.N.W.  of  the 
farm,  and  to  this  the  rambler  will  now  make  his  way.  N.E.  by  N.  of 
it,  and  £  m.  distant,  is  Middle  Tor,  which  is  worth  a  visit.  From 
Middle  Tor  it  is  not  far  to  Kes  Tor,  from  which  the  routes  to  Chagford 
are  given  in  S.  Ex.  5  5 . 

The  return  may  also  be  made  by  way  of  Frenchbere  and  Yard- 
worthy  ;  the  distance  is  very  little  further.  From  the  first-named  farm 
a  path  leads  down  to  a  wooden  foot-bridge  on  the  South  Teign.  This 
the  rambler  will  follow,  and  crossing  the  river  will  make  his  way  up 
through  Yardworthy  to  the  road.  Turning  I,.,  or  N.E.,  he  may  either 
take  the  R.  or  L.  branch  at  the  forks.  The  R.  will  lead  him  to  the 
western  edge  of  Meldon  Common  (he  must  not  turn  R.  before  reaching 
it),  whence  he  will  follow  the  road  to  Waye,  or  cross  over  the  down  as 
in  S.  Ex.  57.  The  L.  branch  will  give  him  a  better  view  of  the  narrow 
vale  through  which  the  South  Teign  runs.  He  will  also  pass  Collihole, 
the  ancient  Collerewe  ;  the  house  is  a  good  example  of  the  moorland 
homesteads  of  a  former  day.  Here,  as  in  other  old  houses  in  the  moor- 
land region,  some  of  which  are  to  be  seen  in  the  valley  of  the  Tavy, 
while  others  are  noticed  in  our  description  of  the  Post  Bridge  District, 
the  shippen,  or  cowshed,  adjoined  the  living  looms,  and  the  inmates 
and  the  cattle  all  entered  at  one  door.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  house 
stands  on  a  site  excavated  from  the  side  of  the  hill,  an  arrangement 
observed  elsewhere  on  the  moorland  borders,  and  which  was  doubtless 
intended  for  shelter.  Collihole  now  forms  part  of  Hole  Farm,  which 
the  visitor  will  pass  a  little  further  on.  Beyond  this  he  will  reach 
Thorn,  where  he  will  turn  R.  to  Waye  and  Chagford. 

S.  Ex.  57. — Meldon,  Nattadon,  and  Week  Down.  These  elevated 
commons  are  situated  to  the  S.  of  the  town  of  Chagford,  the  summits 
of  the  first  and  last  named  being  about  i  m.  from  the  church.  Natta- 
don is  a  little  nearer.  Meldon  is  reached  from  the  Square  by  way  of 
High  Street  (in  which  is  the  well-known  hostelry,  the  Three  Crowns, 
once  a  house  belonging  to  the  Whiddons)  and  the  School,  opposite 
to  which  is  a  path  leading  to  Padley  Common,  a  small  down  lying 


32  Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagtord  and  Moreton. 

at  the  northern  foot  of  this  fine  hill.  From  this  point  the  visitor 
may  make  his  way  direct  to  the  top,  647  feet  above  the  churchyard, 
or  1,280  feet  above  sea  level,  where  are  some  scattered  masses  of 
granite,  and  from  which  a  fine  view  is  commanded.  Another  way  is 
by  passing  the  School  and  following  the  road  to  Meldon  Hall,  just 
before  arriving  at  which  it  touches  the  common,  or  by  going  still 
further  on  to  Higher  Weddicott,  from  which  the  summit  is  only  a 
short  distance. 

Nattadon  may  also  be  reached  by  the  same  road,  the  visitor  turn- 
ing L.  a  little  short  of  Meldon  Hall ;  or  he  may  strike  into  a  path  at 
Highfield,  which  will  also  bring  him  to  the  common.  This  hill,  the 
north-western  slope  of  which  is  strewn  with  granite,  attains  an  eleva- 
tion of  about  i  ,000  feet.  On  its  eastern  edge  the  path  alluded  to  joins 
the  road  that  comes  up  from  the  town  by  the  Rectory,  and  at  a  point 
very  near  to  where  it  enters  upon  Week  Down,  which  common  is 
noticed  in  S.  Ex.  61. 

The  road  on  the  south-western  verge  of  Meldon  Common,  between 
Waye  and  Tawton  Gate  near  Yardworthy,  may  be  reached  by  striking 
over  this  hill  from  Padley  Common  in  a  south-westerly  direction, 
leaving  the  summit  L.  In  reversing  this  the  rambler  will  leave  the 
road  at  the  guide-post,  and,  of  course,  strike  N.E.  This  route  may 
be  preferred  by  visitors  making  their  way  to  or  from  that  part  of  the 
moor  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Metheral. 

S.  Ex.  58. — Warren  House  Inn,  direct.  By  the  moor  from  C., 
ii  m.  ;  by  road  from  C.,  10  m.  From  Moreton  the  route  is  by  road 
only,  \2\  m.  BY  THE  MOOR.  This  route  will  first  take  the  rambler 
to  the  moor  at  Tawton  Gate,  which  point  he  may  reach  by  the  road 
branching  off  at  Waye  (See  Chagford  to  Metheral );  or  he  may  join 
the  same  road  by  striking  up  over  Padley  Common,  as  in  S.  Ex.  57 
On  entering  upon  Yardworthy  Common,  near  a  large  newtake  en- 
closed about  seventy  years  ago,  the  rambler  will  turn  L.,  with 
the  wall  of  Willandhead  close  on  that  hand,  and  make  his  way  due  S., 
with  Metheral  Brook  on  his  right.  In  1240  this  stream  seems  to  have 
been  called  the  Alber,  or  Aber,  but  the  name  is  now  lost.  The  peram- 
bulators of  that  date  draw  the  boundary  line  of  the  forest  in  this  part 
of  the  moor  through  the  midst  of  the  Turbary  of  Alberysheved,*  and 
this  can  only  have  reference  to  the  peaty  ground  near  the  head  of 
this  stream.  In  1609  the  jury  of  survey  identified  it  as  such,  though 
the  spot  was  then  called  Turf  Hill,  and  this  name  it  also  bore  some 
ninety  years  later,  when,  however,  it  was  also  known  as  Black  Fen. 
In  the  earlier  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  it  was  referred  to  as  Broad- 
moor  Mires,  but  it  is  now  generally  known  as  Metheral  Bogs.  About 
£  m.  from  the  point  at  which  the  rambler  has  entered  on  the  moor  the 
wall  on  the  L.  is  carried  toward  the  S.E.,  so  that  in  pursuing  a  southerly 
course  he  will  gradually  leave  it.  When  he  has  proceeded  about  £  m. 
from  the  point  where  it  strikes  off  he  will  be  abreast  of  the  head  of  the 
bogs,  which  should  be  J  m.  R.  This  part  of  the  moor  is  noticed  in 
R.  25,  in  Ex.  21,  and  in  T.  44,  where  also  are  some  remarks  on 
the  old  track  that  ran  over  Hurston  Ridge.  The  course  will  now  be 

*Among  other  forms  in  which  this  name  appears  are  Alberyshede, 
Aberesheved,  and  Aberheve. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 


33 


W.  of  S.,  to  avoid  dropping  down  in  the  valley  of  the  Bovey,  and  in 
a  little  over  i     m.  the  Warren  House  Inn  will  be  reached. 


Hameldon. 


N.E. 


FROM  NEAR   WARREN  HOUSE  INN,    I.OOKING   E. 


No  directions  for  the  return  route  are  needed,  as  the  rambler  will 
merely  steer  E.  of  N.  from  the  Inn,  changing  his  course  to  due  N. 
when  about  i£  m.  from  it,  and  on  reaching  the  road  between  Metheral 
and  Yardworthy  will  turn  R.  and  make  his  way  to  Chagford  as  in 
S.  Ex.  56,  57. 

The  Warren  House  Inn  may  also  be  reached  by  way  of  the  Bovey 
river.  The  rambler  will  proceed  for  the  first  2  m.  or  so  as  above 
(see  also  Chagford  to  Metheral},  but  at  the  turning  beyond  Tanna- 
ford  he  must  strike  into  the  road  I/.,  which  will  lead  him  to  Higher 
Corndon,  whence  a  lane  runs  down  to  the  river.  This  he  will  follow 
upwards  to  Hurston,  and  passing  through  the  farm,  reach  the  common 
by  a  track  running  between  the  enclosures.  A  short  distance  to  the 
I/,  of  the  point  at  which  he  emerges  upon  it  is  the  pound  described  in 
Ex.  21.  The  rambler  will  now  strike  southward,  with  the  Bovey,  or 
Hurston  Water,  in  the  valley  !,.,  to  King's  Oven,  i|  m.  distant,  and 
about  £  m.  N.  of  his  destination. 

The  first  part  of  the  reverse  of  this  route  will  be  found  in  Ex.  21, 
where  directions  are  given  for  reaching  the  pound  above  Lakeland 
just  referred  to.  On  leaving  this  he  will  strike  into  the  track  200  yards 
N.W.  of  it,  and  will  shortly  reach  Hurston,  beyond  which  he  will  follow 
the  Bovey  downward  for  nearly  \  m.  Here,  where  it  bends  R.,  he 
will  leave  it,  and  pass  up  the  lane  to  Higher  Corndon,  at  which  farm 
he  turns  ~L,.  and  then  R.  and  shortly  reaches  the  S.W.  corner  of  Meldon 
Common.  From,  this  point  the  route  is  described  in  S.  Ex.  56,  57. 

BY  ROAD.  Prom  Chagford  the  way  lies  past  the  School  and  up 
the  hill  due  S.  to  Meldon  Hall,  as  in  S.  Ex.  57,  and  thence  to  Jurston 
Gate,  as  already  described  (see  Chagford  to  Moor  Gate  via  Jurston  Gate). 
This  gate,  which  is  about  2^  m.  from  the  town,  is  hung  between  two 
masses  of  rock,  on  one  of  which  there  are  three  basins.  The  road 
is  now  followed  over  the  common  for  about  i  m.,  when  it  is  joined 
by  that  coming  I,,  from  Moreton.  On  this  hill  are  the  Chagford  Golf 
Links. 

Prom  Moreton  to  Moor  Gate  q.v.     The  junction  with  the  road 

D3 


34  Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

from  Chagford  is  about  J  m.  further  on,  between  which  two  points  the 
road  to  Challacombe  and  Cator  branches  L.  (R.  33).  From  the  junction 
the  Princetown  road  runs  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  and  this  is  now 
followed.  In  the  valley  on  the  R.  is  Lakeland,  and  the  disused  West 
Vitifer  Mine  (Ex.  21).  Further  on  the  road  runs  by  Bush  Down, 
with  Bennet's  Cross  L.  (Ex.  22),  and  shortly  afterwards  enters  the 
forest,  the  boundary  being  marked  by  a  tiny  stream — the  head  waters 
of  the  Walla  Brook,  which  flows  S.  to  the  East  Dart.  Just  within 
the  boundary  is  the  WTarren  House  Inn,  which  is  noticed  in  Ex.  45. 

(These  road  routes  from  Chagford  and  Moreton  form  the  first  part 
of  R.  35). 

The  return  by  the  road  is  given  in  R.  4. 

S.  Ex.  59. — -Grim's  Pound,  direct.  From  C.,  9}  m.  ;  from  M., 
n£  m.  From  Chagford  the  route  to  the  moor  at  Jurston  Gate,  as 
above,  must  be  followed.  About  200  yards  beyond  the  gate  the  road 
must  be  deserted  and  a  southerly  course  struck.  (Bear  a  little  E.  of  S.) 
This  will  take  the  rambler  across  the  branch  of  the  Bovey  rising  in 
Green  Combe,  and  on  climbing  the  slope  on  the  further  side  of  it  he 
will  find  himself  at  the  point  where  the  road  to  Challacombe  diverges 
from  the  Princetown  highway.  This  Challacombe  road  must  be 
followed  as  in  R.  33,  for  a  distance  of  nearly  i^  m.,  when  Firth  Bridge 
will  be  reached,  with  Grim's  Pound  in  the  wide  combe  I,.  (Ex.  22). 
If  preferred  the  rambler  may  strike  over  the  common  L.  instead  of 
following  the  Challacombe  road  from  the  highway,  and  visit  Shapley 
Tor  and  Hookney  Tor  en  route. 

From  Moreton  the  visitor  may  reach  the  pound  either  by  way  of 
Moor  Gate  or  North  Bovey.  The  latter  is  the  shorter,  and  the  route 
is  sketched  in  S.  Ex.  61  and  62.  The  road  to  Moor  Gate  has  already 
been  described,  and  it  is  now  only  necessary  to  mention  a  few  objects 
the  rambler  will  pass.  About  £  m.  from  the  town,  on  the  R.  of  the 
•way,  is  an  entrance  gate  to  Lowton,  where  are  two  granite  pillars. 
One  bears  the  date  1720,  and  the  other  the  letters  I.S.,  and  on  each 
is  an  emblazoned  shield.  It  is  evident  that  these  once  formed  one 
stone,  and  that  the  carving  was  on  a  panel,  part  of  the  moulding  of 
which  is  still  to  be  seen.  At  Bughead  Cross,  just  over  i  m.  from  More- 
ton,  is  an  old  guide-stone  bearing  the  initials  of  Moreton,  Newton, 
Tavistock,  and  Chagford.  This  part  of  the  road  was  once  the  haunt 
of  a  mysterious  individual  named  John  Fall,  who  seems  to  have  been 
a  highwayman  with  a  penchant  for  frightening  his  victims  by  a  kind 
of  Spring-heel  Jack  performance.  In  ascending  the  hill  after  crossing 
Worm  Hill  Bridge,  a  gate  hung  in  the  primitive  manner  will  be  observed 
on  the  R.  At  Beetor  Cross,  where  a  road  comes  up  R.  from  Beetor 
Farm,  is  another  old  guide-stone,  and  a  little  further  on,  where  the 
road  branches  L.  to  Barramoor  Bridge  (R.  32,  53),  the  ancient  stone 
cross,  erected  in  all  piobability  to  mark  the  track  across  the  moor  on 
the  line  of  which  the  present  road  runs,  will  be  seen  on  the  hedge  L. 
For  many  years  this  cross  served  as  a  guide-post  in  a  field  near  by, 
but  was  placed  in  its  present  situation,  \\hich  there  is  little  doubt  is 
very  near  to  its  original  site,  in  1900.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XIV.]  Thii 
spot  is  also  known  as  Watching  Place,  and  it  is  said  that  a  gibbet  was 
once  erected  here,  the  criminal  whose  corpse  was  hung  upon  it  being 
the  last  to  be  made  such  an  example  of  in  this  neighbourhcod. 

(The  road  I/,  runs  eastward,  to  Barramoor  Bridge  and  Ashburton, 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton.  35 

turning  S.  1 50  yards  on.  The  other  branch  goes  E.  to  Hele,  where  is 
another  stone  cross  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.],  and  passing  Bowden  Mill 
is  carried  over  a  branch  of  the  Bovey  flowing  from  near  Vogwell 
Down  (Ex.  23),  and  reaches  Yard,  just  beyond  which  it  crosses  Bovey 
Bridge  and  enters  the  village  of  North  Bovey). 

From  Beetor  Cross  the  road  to  the  moor,  i  m.  distant,  runs  south- 
westerly. J  ust  before  it  is  reached  there  is  a  turning  across  some  fields 
~L<.  leading  to  a  small  farm  named  Liapa.  Here  the  upper  portion  of 
a  fine  granite  cross  may  be  seen  built  into  the  garden  wall  [Crosses, 
Chap.  XIV.] 

On  reaching  Moor  Gate  the  rambler  may  desert  the  Princetown 
road  and  strike  up  over  Shapley  Common  L.  to  Shapley  Tor,  noticing . 
some  hut  circles  as  he  proceeds.  The  course  is  at  first  S.W.  by  S., 
with  the  enclosures  L,.,  but  in  less  than  £  m.  this  is  changed  to  S.,  and 
then  to  E.  of  S.  By  this  route  Shapley  Tor  is  about  i  m.  from  Moor 
Gate.  Hookney  Tor  is  f  m.  S.  of  it,  and  Grim's  Pound  is  immediately 
below  this.  The  return  is  given  in  Ex.  22. 

S.  Ex.  60. — Hameldon  and  Berry  Pound.  Add  2  m.  to  the  distances 
given  in  S.  Ex.  59.  Prom  Chagford,  Grim's  Pound  will  be  the  first 
point,  instructions  for  reaching  which  are  given  in  S.  Ex.  59.  Thence 
tlie  visitor  will  make  his  way  to  Hameldon  Tor,  1,737  feet,  sometimes 
called  Grim's  Tor,  which  is  quite  near  to  the  pound 'and  is  seen  from 
it  S.E.  A  fine  view  of  the  great  hut  enclosure  is  obtained  from  the 
rocks.  About  ^  m.  from  them,  S.  by  E.,  is  Hameldon  Cross.  This  is 
noticed  in  our  description  of  the  ridge  of  Hameldon  given  in  the 
Bovey  Tracey  District,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  Rather  over 
%  m.  E.  by  S.  of  the  tor,  and  about  the  same  distance  E.N.E.  of  the 
cross,  is  Berry  Pound,  also  noticed  as  above.  Prom  this  enclosure 
King's  Barrow  is  £  m.  N.N.W.,  and  Grim's  Pound  rather  more  than 
that  distance  W.N.W. 

Prom  Moreton  the  route  may  be  by  Moor  Gate,  as  in  S.  Ex.  59, 
or  through  North  Bovey.  For  the  latter  see  S.  Ex.  61  and  62. 

For  the  return  route  from  the  pound  see  Ex.  22  and  S.  Ex.  61. 

S.  Ex.  61. — North  Bovey  and  East  Down.  C.,  n^  m.  ;  M.,  6%  m. 
The  visitor  from  Chagford  will  pass  up  the  hill  S.  of  the  church  with 
the  rectory  grounds  L.  to  Week  Down,  whence  a  fine  view  is  presented 
of  the  district  over  which  our  rambles  have  extended.  Kes  Tor  stands 
up  well  between  Nattadon,  or  Nat  Tor  Down,  as  it  has  sometimes  been 
called,  R.,  and  Meldon  Hill  L.  Here,  by  the  roadside,  is  an  old  granite 
cross,  having  an  incised  Maltese  cross  on  each  face.  It  is  leaning 
somewhat  out  of  the  perpendicular.  This  cross,  together  with  Shorter 
Cross,  which  the  visitor  will  pass  a  little  further  on,  I  have  described 
elsewhere  [Crosses,  Chap.  XIII.]  Shorter  Cross  stands  near  the  down 
on  the  L.  of  the  lane  leading  from  it  to  Middlecott,  which  is  the  next 
point.  After  passing  this  place,  which  consists  of  three  farmhouses, 
avoid  taking  the  first  turning  L.  The  lane  only  leads  to  some  fields,  but 
bend  sharp  to  the  L.  just  after  to  the  guide-post.  Here  the  I,,  branch 
must  be  followed  to  Thorn,  where  some  holed  stones  will  be  noticed. 
A  very  short  distance  beyond  tie  farm  a  road  branches  R.,  or  S.,  which 
will  bring  the  visitor  to  a  point  on  the  Moreton  and  Moor  Gate  road, 
if-  m.  from  the  former  place,  where  is  a  guide-post.  This  road  must 


36  Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

be  crossed  and  the  lane,  which  is  a  very  winding  one,  be  followed,  the 
general  direction  being  S.E.  A  little  way  in  is  a  turning  to  the  R.  ; 
this  must  be  passed.  About  ij  m.  on  is  a  guide-post,  and  here  is 
the  manor  pound.  The  road  to  the  village,  which  is  close  by,  runs  to 
the  R.  of  this. 

From  Moreton  the  road  bearing  L.  near  the  White  Horse  Hotel  is 
followed  for  a  few  score  yards,  when  the  visitor  will  branch  R.  (The 
road  going  straight  on,  or  S.,  leads  into  one  shortly  to  be  reached,  and 
runs  to  Lustleigh).  About  i  m.  further  one  this  is  met  at  Bovey  Cross, 
or  Horse  Pit  Cross  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.]  It  comes  N.  from  Sandy  Park 
(S.  Ex.  67,  68),  and  Easton,  and  goes  to  Lustleigh  by  way  of  Sanduck. 
Less  than  £  m.  beyond  Horse  Pit  Cross  is  the  pound  mentioned  above. 

North  Bovey  has  happily  preserved  its  old  restful  air.  Removed 
from  the  high  road  and  the  railway  it  is  now  almost  as  ever  it  was. 
Although  not  altogether  typical  of  a  Dartmoor  border  village,  there 
is  certainly  not  one  that  is  more  pleasing.  The  houses,  one  of  which 
bears  the  date  1738,  surround  a  playstow,  shaded  by  a  grove  of  ancient 
oaks.  The  village  cross  is  an  interesting  feature.  For  a  time  this 
served  the  purpose  of  a  footbridge,  but  was  set  up  in  its  present 
situation  in  1829  by  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Jones,  who  was  then  curate  of  the 
parish.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.]  Mr.  Jones  was  the  author  of  a  small 
book  on  the  scenery  and  antiquities  of  Moretonhampstead,  and  another 
on  the  scenery  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ashburton,  both  first  published 
in  1823. 

North  Bovey  Church,  which  is  perpendicular  in  style,  possesses 
no  monuments  of  importance.  The  tower  has  a  projecting  stair 
turret. 

A  new  manor  house  has  lately  been  built  in  the  Week  Valley  by 
the  Hon.  W.  F.  D.  Smith. 

Near  the  village  is  art  interesting  object.  It  is  a  memorial  set  up 
by  a  loving  hand,  and  stands  in  a  field  belonging  to  Fairbrook,  which 
is  reached  by  crossing  the  bridge  near  Broadmead  Cottage,  and  turning 
into  a  gateway  on  the  right  a  short  distance  up  the  lane.  Beneath  a 
large  oak,  on  a  granite  block  in  situ,  rests  a  square  slab  of  the  same, 
and  on  this  is  placed  a  small  kist,  the  inner  side  and  ends,  as  well  as 
the  cover-stone,  being  also  of  granite,  and  carefully  worked,  while  the 
front  is  of  white  marble.  On  this  is  the  following  inscription  : 

FLORA, 

THE  MUCH  LOVED  FRIEND 

AND 

COMPANION  OF  HER  MASTER. 
7  July,   1834. 

Surmounting  the  whole  is  a  small  granite  obelisk.  This  little 
monument,  which  conveys  so  much  to  us,  was  erected  by  Captain 
Britten  to  the  memory  of  his  faithful  dog. 

North  Bovey  village  is  overlooked  on  the  S.W.  by  East  Down, 
or  Easton  Down,  as  it  is  now  usually  called,  a  fine  eminence  at  the  N., 
or  upper  end  of  the  Widecombe  Valley.  It  is  approached  by  crossing 
Bovey  Bridge  and  following  the  road  towards  Yard  for  about  a  furlong, 
and  then  turning  up  a  lane  L.  to  the  down  which  is  close  by.  Its 
length  from  N.  to  S.  is  about  i£  m.,  and  its  breadth  about  I  m.  On 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Chagford  and  Moreton.  37 

its  southern  verge  are  the  farms  of  Easdon  and  Barracott,  N.  of  the 
former  being  East  Down,  or  Easdon  Tor,  and  N.  of  the  latter,  Easdon 
Hill.  The  down  may  also  be  reached  from  the  village  by  crossing  the 
Bovey  at  the  lower  bridge  near  Broadmead  Cottage,  and  taking  the 
R.  branch  of  the  road  at  the  first  forks  to  Bowda.  There  are  a  number 
of  hut  circles  upon  it,  and  if  the  visitor  goes  by  way  of  the  lane  near 
Yard  he  may  meet  with  some  of  these  by  steering  a  S.S.W.^course, 
which  will  also  bring  him  to  the  tor  crowning  the  hill,  when  he  will 
have  attained  an  elevation  of  1,440  feet.  He  will  first  pass  the  disused 
workings  of  Great  Wheal  Eleanor,  above  Hourder  Plantation,  and 
continuing  his  way  up  the  steep  ascent,  will  reach  a  group  of  hut  circles 
in  about  £  m.  Another  group  is  situated  to  the  S.E.  of  the  tor.  Just 
before  reaching  the  rocks  the  line  of  stones  marking  the  boundary 
between  the  parishes  of  North  Bovey  and  Manaton  is  passed.  The 
view  from  the  summit  is  good,  all  the  chief  hills  and  tors  in  the  vicinity 
being  in  sight.  Southward  is  the  Widecombe  Valley,  Honeybag,  and 
Chinkwell  being  on  the  L.,  and  Hameldon  R.  (Bovey  Tracey  District). 
To  the  N.W.  is  Cosdon,  which  is  seen  from  every  lofty  place  on  the 
E.  side  of  the  moor.  East  Down  is  in  view  from  Brent  Hill  (Brent  and 
Ivybridge  District),  and  from  the  Kingsbridge  road  above  Wrangaton 
Station  (R.  47).  Many  years  ago  I  used  to  be  amused  at  hearing  the 
landlord  of  the  hotel  at  that  place  point  out  the  hill  to  visitors 
as  Yes  Tor.  There  is  a  large  block  of  granite  on  this  pile  known  as  the 
Whooping  Rock,  and  so  called  according  to  a  note  in  Carrington's 
Dartmoor  (poem,  1826)  from  the  noise  it  made  in  tempestuous  weather, 
presumably  occasioned  by  the  wind  rushing  through  some  aperture. 
But  it  has  also  been  said  to  have  obtained  this  name  from  a  custom 
formerly  observed  in  the  locality  of  taking  children  to  the  tor  when 
suffering  from  whooping  cough,  in  order  that  they  might  be  near  the 
sheep,  a  belief  once  existing  that  those  afflicted  with  that  complaint 
would  be  cured  if  left  for  a  time  among  those  animals. 

At  Easdon  Farm  some  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  century  silver 
coins  were  found  several  years  ago,  together  with  an  old  jack-knife, 
concealed  in  the  house.  An  Account  of  these  was  given  by  the  late 
Mr.  William  Pengelly  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Devonshire  Association, 
Vol.  XII.  Not  far  to  the  west  of  Easdon  is  Vogwell,  of  which  there  is 
a  very  early  mention.  The  name  appears  in  a  document  found  among 
the  Exeter  Cathedral  archives,  dealing  with  the  boundaries  of  certain 
lands  in  this  neighbourhood  in  Saxon  times,  but  in  a  slightly  different 
form.  The  boundary  line  being  drawn  from  Lustleigh  to  Witheoombe 
Head,  is  then  said  to  go  "  from  thence  to  Lime  Stream,  and  so  to 
Voghill  Lake  ;  and  along  that  lake  to  Voghill's  Head."  That  Voghill 
is  the  present  Vogwell  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

Prom  Easdon  Farm  the  return  to  North  Bovey  may  be  by  way  of 
the  hill,  the  course  to  be  steered  being  N.N.E.  On  reaching  the  road 
below  Wheal  Eleanor  turn  R.  to  Bovey  Bridge.  Then  passing  through 
the  village  leave  it  by  the  road  above  the  New  Inn,  and  pass  up  to  the 
pound.  The  guide-post  here  will  show  that  the  R.  branch  of  the  road 
— running  N.E. — must  be  taken.  Soon  afterwards  the  Lustleigh  road 
is  crossed  at  Horse  Pit  Cross,  and  in  another  i£  m.  Moreton  will  be 
reached. 

The  visitor  from  Chagford  will,  of  course,  take  the  L.  branch  at 
the  pound,  and  in  f  m.  will  cross  the  Moreton  and  Moor  Gate  road. 


38  Shorter  Excursions  from  North  Bovey. 

He  will  then  turn  L.  to  Thorn,  thence  following  the  road  to  Middlecott 
and  Week  Down.  (The  guide-post  £  m.  beyond  Thorn  will  show  that 
he  has  to  take  the  road  running  W.  and  then  N.W.)  From  Week 
Down  the  road  leads  down  the  hill  direct  to  the  town. 

[If  preferred  the  return  from  Easdon  to  Chagford  may  be  by  the 
way  of  Beetor  Cross.  The  road  running  N.W.  from  the  farm  is  followed 
for  i£  A.  to  Barramoor  Bridge  (R.  53).  Between  these  points  a  road 
branches  R.  to  Langdon,  after  which  there  is  a  cross  road,  and  then 
another  road  R.  to  Gratnar  ;  avoid  turning  into  either.  N.  of  the 
bridge  there  is  another  turning  R.  where  a  road  runs  to  Hele  ;  this 
must  be  passed  also.  About  £  m.  further  on  is  a  guide-post,  where  the 
road  to  Watching  Place,  or  Beetor  Cross,  turns  L-  At  the  cross  turn, 
sharp  R.,  or  N.,  and  then  almost  immediately  L.,  and  passing  Beetor 
Farm  follow  the  road  to  Beetor  Bridge,  where  the  Bovey  is  crossed, 
and  thence  N.  to  the  guide-post  near  Stiniel.  Leave  this  farm  L., 
and  about  ^  m.  further  on  turn  L,.  to  Lower  Weddicott.  Just  beyond 
this  is  Higher  W'eddicott,  where  the  rambler  will  turn  R.,  or  N.,  and 
speedily  reach  Meldon  Hall.  The  way  to  the  town  lies  straight  down 
the  hill,  N. 

S.  Ex.  62. — North  Bovey  to  Grim's  Pound,  6|  m.  Crossing  Bovey 
Bridge  the  rambler  will  make  his  way  to  Yard,  rather  over  £  m.,  where 
he  will  take  the  L.  branch  at  the  forks  reached  immediately  after  passing 
that  place.  £  m.  further  the  road  again  forks,  and  here. also  he  will 
strike  into  the  L.  branch,  and  follow  the  road  to  Langdon,  which  is 
rather  more  than  \  m.  distant.  Very  soon  after  that  farm  is  passed  the 
Chagford  (R.)  and  Ashburton  (L.)  road  is  reached  (R.  32),  and  here  the 
visitor  will  turn  L-,  but  will  only  follow  it  for  a  few  score  yards,  when 
he  will  strike  into  a  path  R.  running  across  some  enclosures.  This 
leads  to  Kendon  and  Heathercombe,  to  the  first  of  which  farms  he  must 
make  his  way.  On  crossing  the  branches  of  the  Bovey  that  flow  from 
near  Vogwell  Down,  close  to  where  they  unite,  the  path  runs 
southward  by  the  stream,  and  £  m.  up  a  lane  branches  R.  This  will 
lead  the  rambler  to  Kendon,  which  is  near  by.  This  farm  is  one  of 
the  ancient  vills,  and  appears  four  hundred  yeais  ago  as  the  "  hamelett 
de  Kyndon,"  when  it  paid  a  venville  rent  of  id.  The  lane  is  continued 
past  this  to  the  moor,  which  is  less  than  £  m.  distant.  The  rambler 
will  now  find  himself  below  King's  Barrow,  which  bears  W.S.W.,  and 
which  has  already  been  noticed.  On  reaching  this  he  will  see  the 
wide  combe  in  which  Grim's  Pound  is  situated — the  pound  itself  is 
about  £  m.  S.W.  by  W.  As  the  surroundings  have  been  described  in 
Ex.  22,  the  rambler  is  referred  there  for  further  directions. 

If  the  return  from  Grim's  Pound  to  North  Bovey  is  to  be  made 
over  the  same  road  by  which  the  rambler  has  approached  it,  he  will 
first  direct  his  steps  to  King's  Barrow,  as  in  Ex.  22,  and  then  strike 
E.N.E.  to  the  lane  leading  to  Kendon,  thence  passing  by  the  farm  to 
the  stream.  This  becomes  his  companion  down  to  the  point  where  it 
unites  with  another,  when  it  is  crossed,  and  the  path  running  N.E. 
followed  to  the  Chagford  road.  Here  turn  L.,  and  then  immediately 
R.  up  the  hill  to  Langdon,  on  passing  which  the  descent  to  Yard  is 
commenced,  the  common  being  kept  close  on  the  R. 

Another  way  of  returning  is  by  Heathercombe.  Pass  up  the 
combe  due  E.  from  Grim's  Pound,  and  in  I  m.  the  enclosures  of  this 


BANKS   OF   TEIGN.     KINGSTON  ROCKS.  39 

farm  will  be  reached.  A  little  stream  which  runs  close  to  it  will  first 
be  struck.  On  passing  Heathercombe  the  path  I,.,  which  is  carried 
along  by  the  side  of  the  Bovey  branch  mentioned  above,  is  followed 
down  the  valley  due  N.  to  the  lane  L.  leading  to  Kendon,  Vogwell 
Farm,  R.,  being  passed  on  the  way.  From  this  point  directions  have 
been  given  above. 

S.  Ex.  63. — North  Bovey  to  Manaton,  44-  m.  Just  beyond  the 
bridge  near  Broadmead  Cottage  a  lane  turns  L,.  This  must  be  passed, 
but  at  the  fork  a  little  way  further  on,  the  L.  branch  must  be  followed. 
£  m.  on  Higher  Luckdon  is  passed  R.,  and  then  Lower  Luckdon  I/. 
(R.  32).  Just  beyond  this  a  footpath  leads  across  some  fields  L. 
Follow  this,  and  on  reaching  another  road,  cross  it,  and  strike  into  one 
running  S.E.  This  passes  through  Neadon  (Bovey  Tracey  District, 
Short  Excursions),  £  m.  beyond  which  the  rambler  turns  R.  and  ascends 
the  hill  to  the  village,  nearly  £  m.  distant. 

Another  way  is  by  going  through  Langstone.  The  field  path 
mentioned  above  must  not  be  chosen,  but  the  road  followed  to  the 
farm  named,  where  is  a  guide-post.  Turn  R.,  and  almost  immediately 
after  strike  into  a  path  L.  This  runs  across  a  field  to  some  enclosures 
on  the  down  N.  of  Manaton  Rocks,  and  may  be  followed  to  the  road, 
which  climbs  the  hill  from  Neadon.  Here  turn  R.  to  the  village. 
The  return  is  given  in  the  Shorter  Excursions  in  the  Bovey  Tracey 
District. 

Cosdon.  Chagford  visitors  will  proceed  via  Shilstone  Hill,  and 
Clannaborough  Down  ;  directions  for  reaching  Shilstone  Tor  are  given 
in  R.  38  A.  Vide  S.  Ex.  47  and  the  section  on  Cosdon  in  the  Oke- 
hampton  District,  Part  II. 

The  Banks  of  the  Teign. 

Although,  as  De  la  Beche  has  pointed  out,  the  region  bounded  on 
the  north  and  east  by  the  Teign,  and  embracing  the  parishes  of  Moreton, 
Bridford,  Christow,  and  Hennock,  is  geologically  and  geographically 
one  with  Dartmoor,  it  has  never  been  looked  upon  as  forming 
part  of  it,  nor  is  there  any  mention  of  it  in  connection  with  the  forest 
or  commons  of  Devon.  The  true  eastern  boundary  of  the  moor,  south 
of  the  Teign,  runs  through  the  parishes  of  Chagford,  North  Bovey, 
and  Manaton,  to  Lustleigh,  and  the  district  referred  to  is  altogether 
outside  this.  But  within  its  confines  are  a  number  of  hills  and  tors  of 
a  character  precisely  similar  to  those  on  Dartmoor  itself,  and  although 
this  large  tract  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  this  book,  it  may 
perhaps  be  well  to  notice  briefly  the  chief  of  these.  To  one  part  of  this 
district — The  Gorge  of  Fingle  and  Drewsteignton,  which  are  near 
Chagford  and  Moreton — it  will  be  necessary  to  devote  a  little  more 
attention.  This  is  therefore  described  in  a  series  of  short  excursions. 

About  i  m.  from  Moreton,  and  approached  by  the  Exeter  road, 
which  leaves  the  town  by  way  of  Cross  Street,  where  the  old  alms- 
houses  are  situated  (this  runs  eastward  from  the  White  Hart  Hotel), 
is  Kingston  Down,  the  summit  of  which,  crowned  with  the  granite 
masses  known  as  Kingston  Rocks,  attains  an  elevation  of  over  1,000 
feet.  On  the  eastern  side  of  this  down  two  roads,  branching  from 
the  Exeter  highway,  run  southward,  one  of  them  (the  R.  in  following 


40       BANKS   OF   TEIGN.     BLACKSTONE  AND  WHITSTONE. 

that  course)  leading  to  Pepperdon  Down,  and  the  other  to  the  common 
on  which  is  situated  the  fine  Blackingstone  Rock.  Further  E.  is 
Laployd  Down,  adjoining  which  is  Beacon  Down,  and  S.  of  these 
the  Kennick  Reservoir.  This  is  over  J  m.  in  length,  and  communi- 
cates with  the  Tottiford  Reservoir,  the  both  forming  the  collecting 
basin  of  the  water  supply  of  Torquay.  Towards  Christow,  which  is 
about  2  m.  from  these  fine  sheets  of  water,  are  Clampitt  Down,  Kiln 
Down,  and  Inn  Down,  and  S.  of  these,  and  between  Christow  and 
Hennock,  are  Waye  Down  and  Barton  Down.  North-west  of  the 
village  of  Christow,  the  church  of  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  great 
Abbey  of  Bee,  in  Normandy,  and  afterwards  to  Tavistock  Abbey,  is 
Bridford,  anciently  Bridgeford,  proverbial  for  its  remote  situation, 
and  between  these  two  places  is  a  pile  known  as  Skat  Tor,  948  feet, 
more  frequently  referred  to  as  Skatter  Rock.  This  is  finely  situated 
on  the  summit  of  Christow  Common,  and  commands  a  charming  view 
of  that  part  of  the  valley  of  the  Teign  a  short  distance  below  Dunsford 
Bridge.  About  i  m.  N.  of  Bridford,  and  on  a  hill  that  sweeps  abruptly 
down  to  the  Teign,  is  Hel  Tor,  whence  the  climber  to  its  breezy  summit 
looks  over  a  wide  extent  of  East  Devon,  the  panorama  being  as  beautiful 
as  it  is  varied.  Blackingstone  Rock,  or  Blackystone,  as  it  is  always 
called,  is  rather  more  than  i  m.  W.  by  S.  of  Hel  Tor,  and  about  the 
same  distance  E.  of  Kingston  Rocks.  Being  well  placed,  and  having 
an  elevation  of  considerably  over  1,000  feet,  this  pile  forms  another 
point  from  which  a  magnificent  view  is  to  be  obtained.  Like  Hel  Tor, 
it  is  seen  for  many  miles  round,  but  according  to  tradition  there  was 
a  time  when  these  tors  were  not  to  be  seen  at  all.  This  tells  us  that 
on  the  hills  on  which  they  are  placed  King  Arthur  and  the  Evil  One 
once  took  their  stand  and  threw  quoits  at  each  other,  an  encounter 
in  which  the  latter  was  defeated.  As  the  quoits  fell  they  became 
changed  into  rocks,  and  thus  the  masses  that  we  now  look  upon  were 
formed.  Not  far  from  Blackingstone  is  a  pile  of  rocks  bearing  the 
name  of  the  Druids'  Altar.  The  reader  will  expect  to  find  this,  for  he 
knows  by  this  time  that  the  Druids  were  ubiquitous.  These  tors  are 
called  by  Risdon  Blackstone  and  Whitstone.  The  present  name  of 
the  latter  has  no  connection  with  the  British  king's  adversary,  this 
simply  implying  height. 

Further  south  on  this  high  land  between  the  Wray  and  the  Teign 
are  other  rock  piles.  The  chief  almong  these  are  referred  to  in  our 
account  of  the  Bovey  Tracey  District. 

The  rambler  will  find  the  walk  from  Moreton  to  Dunsford  Bridge 
a  very  charming  one  ;  the  road  runs  to  the  N.  of  the  tors  just  noticed. 
In  descending  towards  the  bridge,  Woodhill,  an  outlying  boulder- 
strewn  eminence,  is  passed  on  the  R.  A  lane  leads  from  the  village 
of  Dunsford  to  Clifford  Bridge,  whence  the  way  to  Moreton  is  described 
in  S.  Ex.  64. 

S.  Ex.  64. — Mardon  Down,  Clifford  Bridge,  and  Wooston  Castle. 
(From  Moreton).  j\  m.  Following  the  road  on  the  north  side  of  the 
church  we  take  the  L.  branch  at  the  forks,  and  climb  the  hill  to  Mardon 
Down,  about  i  m.  from  the  town.  Here  we  have  a  fine  view  of  the 
eastern  frontier  of  Dartmoor,  Hey  Tor  rising  very  conspicuously  to 
the  S.  On  Mardon  are  some  antiquarian  remains,  but  they  have  been 
despoiled.  About  £  m.  on  the  R.  soon  after  entering  on  the  down  the 


BANKS   OF   TEIGN.     WOOSTON   CASTLE.  41 

visitor  will  find  some  vestiges  of  a  cairn  known  as  the  Giant's  Grave, 
1,170  feet,  and  a  little  to  the  north  of  this  part  of  a  stone  circle,  either 
a  hut  dwelling  or  ring  of  stones  surrounding  a  cairn.  £  m.  N.E.  of  this 
is  a  stone  pillar,  six  feet  high,  which  bears  the  name  of  the  Headless 
Cross,  but  whether  it  ever  was  a  cross  is  doubtful.  It  has  also  been 
called  the  Maximajor  Stone.  Passing  onward  the  rambler  will  descend 
the  hill  to  Clifford  Bridge,  placed  in  the  midst  of  delightful  scenery  at 
the  lower,  or  eastern,  end  of  the  Gorge  of  Fingle. 

[The  rambler  who  may  have  reached  Clifford  Bridge  from  Duns- 
ford,  or  from  Fingle  Bridge,  on  his  way  to  Moreton,  will  follow  the 
main  road  up  the  hill  S.  to  Mardon  Down,  along  the  verge  of  which  he 
will  be  led.  The  common  is  on  the  L.  At  the  cross  road  where  he 
leaves  it  he  will  keep  straight  on,  and  descend  to  the  town,  i  m.  distant.] 

At  the  southern  end  of  Clifford  Bridge  a  very  steep  road  branches 
from  the  one  leading  to  Mardon  Down,  towards  the  W.  Climbing  this 
long  ascent  the  rambler  will,  in  about  i  m.,  reach  a  point  where  it 
forks,  and  here  he  takes  the  R.  branch  to  the  down  on  which  is  situated 
Wooston  Castle,  one  of  the  ancient  hill  camps  guarding  the  eastern 
frontier  of  the  moorland  region.  [Others  will  presently  be  noticed, 
besides  which  there  are  also  camps  near  Lustleigh  and  Ashburton 
( Vide  those  Districts)].  Wooston  is  an  earthwork  approaching  an  oval 
form,  and  is  situated  on  a  steep  declivity  commanding  the  romantic 
Teign  Gorge.  Below  it  are  cliffs,  partly  hidden  by  trees,  and  above  it 
the  bare  down.  This  rises  many  hundred  feet,  and  as  it  would  here  be 
exposed  to  the  assaults  of  an  enemy,  supposing  the  latter  to  have 
forced  their  way  to  the  higher  ground,  it  was  strongly  fortified  on  this 
side.  Here  the  rampart  is  thirty  feet  in  height,  and  is  protected  by 
a  deep  ditch  ;  the  other  parts  of  it  are  unprovided  with  this  additional 
means  of  security,  the  nature  of  the  ground  rendering  such  unnecessary. 
Some  distance  above  this  is  a  second  ditch,  and  also  a  rampart  and  other 
outworks.  The  chief  purpose  of  this  fort  seems  to  have  been  to  guard 
the  pass,  through  which  an  enemy  might  be  expected  to  approach. 
The  high  ground  behind  the  entrenchments  would  be  inaccessible  to 
him  unless  he  could  succeed  in  fighting  his  way  to  it. 

The  road  by  which  we  have  approached  the  down  from  Clifford 
Bridge  runs  on  by  Cranbrook  Castle,  and  through  Uppacott  to  Easton 
and  Chagford  (S.  Ex.  66),  and  this  must  be  followed  if  the  last-named 
place  be  our  destination.  If,  however,  we  are  returning  to  Moreton 
we  leave  this  road  immediately  above  the  fort  and  strike  into  another 
running  up  the  hill  due  S.  This  will  take  us  past  Wooston  Farm  to 
Mardon  Down.  Some  distance  to  the  R.  is  Willingstone  Rock,  1,078 
feet,  to  which  a  road  leads  soon  after  the  farm  is  passed.  From  Mardon 
we  retrace  our  steps  over  the  road  by  which  we  left  the  town. 

[Wooston  Castle  is  2-i-  m.  from  Moreton.  On  reaching  Mardon 
Down  from  the  town,  ante,  the  L.  branch  of  the  road  must  be  followed. 
This  will  lead  the  visitor  past  Wooston  Farm,  R.,  and  straight  down 
to  the  fort.  From  Chagford  the  way  lies  past  Cranbrook  Down. 
S.  Ex.  66.1 

S.  Ex.  65. — The  Teign  Gorge  below  Fingle  Bridge.  (From  Moreton). 
10  m.  To  Clifford  Bridge  as  in  the  preceding  excursion.  Here  an 
angler's  path  will  be  seen  running  W.  through  the  wood  on  the  S. 
bank  of  the  Teign,  and  this  may  be  followed  to  Fingle  Bridge,  about 


42  BANKS   OF   TEIGN.      CRANBROOK   CASTLE. 

3  m.  up  stream.  The  rambler  will  pass  below  \Vooston  Castle,  and  will 
obtain  some  good  views  of  the  gorge,  particularly  when  the  fine  hill  of 
Prestonbury  comes  in  sight.  This  hill,  and  Fingle  Bridge,  together 
with  the  return  route  to  Moreton,  are  described  in  the  next  excursion. 

S.  Ex.  66. — Cranbrooh  Castle,  Fingle  Bridge,  and  Prestonbury. 
M.,  84  m.  ;  C.,  io£  m.  The  first  point  will  be  Uppacott  Down,  and 
this  is  reached  from  Moreton  by  leaving  the  town  by  the  Chagford 
road,  and  shortly  turning  R.,  and  then  almost  immediately  taking  the 
L-  branch  at  the  forks.  This  will  bring  the  rambler  to  Howton,  where 
is  an  open  space  with  a  seat,  and  two  roads  branching  R.  (The  one 
bearing  L.  leads  to  Lynscott  and  Uppacott.  At  Lynscott  is  an  old 
cross,  discovered  a  few  years  ago  acting  as  a  gate-post,  but  now  placed 
under  a  tree  on  a  turfy  space  in  the  lane.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XIV.]  It 
probably  once  marked  a  pack-horse  track  running  from  Lynscott  over 
the  side  of  Butterdon  Hill,  1,154  feet,  to  Fingle  Bridge).  At  Howton 
the  second  road  R.  is  followed  for  ij  m.,  where  the  road  coming  L. 
from  Uppacott  will  be  reached,  the  point  being  marked  by  a  guide-post, 
and  here  the  visitor  turns  R.  (Care  must  be  taken  not  to  branch  R. 
into  the  lane  •£  m.  from  Howton).  ^  m.  from  the  guide-post  is  another, 
where  a  turning  L.  leads  directly  to  that  part  of  Uppacott  Down 
usually  known  as  Cranbrook  Down,  on  the  summit  of  which  is  the  fine 
hill  fort  called  Cranbrook  Castle. 

This  ancient  encampment  is  reached  from  Chagford  by  following 
the  Moreton  road  to  Easton,  i£  m.,  and  then  keeping  straight  on  past 
the  entrance  to  Whiddon  Park,  L.,  up  the  steep  Uppacott  Hill.  About 
i  m.  from  Easton  is  Uppacott,  where  a  road  turns  R.  to  Lynscott, 
and  \  m.  above  this  is  the  guide-post  where  the  road  comes  R.  from 
Howton  and  Moreton.  £  m.  further  on  is  another  guide-post,  where 
a  turning  L.  leads  to  Cranbrook  Down. 

[For  Wooston  Castle  the  visitor  must  keep  straight  on  E.  from 
the  second  guide-post,  leaving  Butterdon  Down  and  Willingstone 
Rock  R.  i£  m.  from  the  guide-post  is  Wooston  Down,  on  which  the 
fort  is  situated.  This  is  on  the  L.  ;  the  road  R.  goes  up  by  Wooston 
Farm  to  Mardon  Down  and  Moreton.] 

Cranbrook  Castle  occupies  a  commanding  position  70x3  feet  above 
the  Teign,  its  height  above  sea  level  being  over  1,100  feet  (a  survey 
mark  gives  1,104).  It  is  an  irregular  encampment  approaching  a 
circular  form,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  rampart  of  stone  and  turf.  On 
the  S.  this  rampart  is  over  20  feet  in  height  on  the  inner  side,  while 
the  outer  slope  is  more  than  40  feet,  and  here  it  is  also  protected  by 
two  ditches.  On  the  W.  there  is  a  single  ditch,  but  none  on  the  N. 
and  E.,  where  the  ground  drops  considerably,  particularly  on  the  N., 
where  the  vallum  is  on  the  brow  of  the  precipitous  scarp  that  rises 
from  the  Teign.  The  space  enclosed  is  stated  by  Lysons  in  the 
Devonshire  volume  of  the  Magna  Britannia,  1822,  to  be  about  six  or 
seven  acres  in  extent;  Mr.  W.  T.  P.  Shortt,  who  published  in  1841 
an  essay  on  some  remains  in  Devon,  describes  it  as  being  about  seven 
acres. 

The  view  from  Cranbrook  is  exceedingly  fine.  Cosdon  uplifts  his 
huge  form  beyond  the  pleasant  fields  of  Gidleigh  and  Throwleigh,  and 
stretching  away  from  the  great  hill  a  long  sweep  of  dusky  moorland 
forms  the  western  horizon,  to  sink  down  to  the  farm  lands  where  the 


BANKS   OF   TEIGN.      FINGLE   BRIDGE.  43 

twin  rocks  of  Hey  Tor  rise  sharply  against  the  sky.  Eastward  the 
beholder  looks  across  the  gorge  to  Prestonbury,  and  upon  a  wide  extent 
of  cultivated  countrx,  where  red  earth,  and  green  weadows  and  woods, 
present  a  happy  contrast  to  the  dun  hills  of  Dartmoor. 

The  road  over  the  down  near  this  ancient  fort,  formed  on  the  line 
of  an  old  pack-horse  track,  descends  by  a  series  of  zig-zags  to  Fingle 
Bridge,  in  the  deep  ravine  below.  On  the  R.  as  the  rambler  descends 
he  will  notice  at  a  point  where  a  path  diverges,  an  upright  slab  with 
an  incised  cross  measuring  14  inches  by  10  inches.  [Crosses,  Chap. 
XIII.]  At  the  angles  of  the  zig-zags  very  fine  views  of  the  gorge  are 
obtained,  that  presented  from  one  of  these  points  being  particularly 
fine,  when  the  rambler  looks  up  the  valley  and  sees  the  folding  hills 
that  rise  steeply  from  the  banks  of  the  hidden  river,  in  places  clothed 
with  oak  coppice,  and  in  others  showing  only  bold,  bare  scarps. 

Fingle  Bridge  is  a  narrow  structure  of  three  arches,  furnished 
with  buttresses,  and  with  recesses  into  which  the  wayfarer  might  turn 
when  meeting  pack-horses  carrying  their  burdens  on  crooks.  Below 
it,  on  the  R  bank,  is  an  old  mill,  and  from  here  the  angler's  path 
before  spoken  of  (S.  Ex.  65)  runs  down  to  Clifford  Bridge.  Above 
the  L.  bank  towers  the  great  hill  of  Prestonbury,  covered  with  heather, 
and  crowned  with  its  huge  camp.  The  visitor  will  here  find  himself 
in  the  midst  of  some  of  the  most  charming  and  romantic  scenery  in 
Devon.  The  Gorge  of  Fingle  is  the  finest  thing  of  its  kind  in  the 
Westcountry.  [Gems,  Chap.  VII.] 

Crossing  the  bridge  the  rambler  will  follow  the  road  up  through 
the  defile,  with  Drewston  Wood  L.  and  Prestonbury  R.,  to  the  top  of 
the  hill,  where  another  road  comes  R.  from  Clifford  Bridge  and  runs 
L.  to  Drewsteignton  village.  Here  he  will  turn  R.  and  enter  upon  a 
path  leading  to  the  summit  of  the  camp-crowned  height,  which,  though 
many  hundred  feet  above  the  river,  is  yet  of  much  less  elevation  than 
Cranbrook.  That  he  will  be  more  struck  with  the  magnificent  view 
of  the  gorge  which  he  obtains  from  this  point  of  vantage  than  with  the 
fort  itself  is  certain,  but  when,  after  having  looked  upon  the  folding 
hills,  and  into  the  depths  of  the  narrow  valley,  he  turns  his  attention 
to  the  ruins  he  will  not  fail  to  notice  how  skilfully  this  elevated  spot 
was  defended.  The  early  builders  of  this  fort  took  full  advantage  of 
what  Natuie  had  done  for  them,  but  there  yet  remained  much  for 
their  hands  to  do.  They  accomplished  it,  and  in  the  days  when  the 
only  long  distance  weapons  were  the  bow  and  the  sling,  the  place  must 
have  been  impregnable.  The  fort,  which  is  of  an  oblong  shape,  is  said, 
with  its  outworks,  to  cover  an  area  of  about  twenty-five  acres.  Descend- 
ing once  more  to  the  bridge,  we  shall  climb  the  zig-zags  through  the  wood 
to  Cranbrook  Down,  though  the  visitor  whose  destination  is  Moreton 
may  perhaps  choose  the  way  by  Fingle  Mill,  following  the  angler's 
path  on  the  R.  bank  of  the  Teign  down  to  Clifford  Bridge,  where  he 
will  turn  R.  into  the  road  leading  over  Mardon  Down  to  the  town 
(S.  Ex.  64).  This  way  will  increase  the  distance  by  3  miles. 

From  Cranbrook  Down  the  road  E.  of  the  camp  must  be  followed 
to  the  guide-post,  where  the  rambler  will  turn  R.  £  m.  on  is  another 
guide-post,  and  here,  if  bound  for  Moreton,  he  will  branch  L.,  or  S.E., 
to  Howton,  i£  m.  from  this  point,  and  thence  keep  straight  on  till  he 
joins  the  road  from  Chagford,  where  he  turns  L.  to  the  town,  £  m. 
distant.  For  Chagford  the  visitor  instead  of  turning  I,,  at  the  second 


44  BANKS  OF  TEIGN.     THE  FINGLE  GORGE. 

guide-post,  will  descend  the  hill  to  Easton.  passing  TTppacott  and  the 
entrance  to  Whiddon  Park  on  the  way.  Thence  straight  on,  S.W.,  i£  m. 
(The  road  to  Drewsteignton,  it  has  already  been  stated,  turns  L., 
or  W,  at  the  top  of  the  defile  between  Prestonbury  and  Drewston 
Wood,  N.  of  Fingle  Bridge,  the  distance  to  the  village  from  this  point 
being  not  much  over  £  m.  To  reach  Sandy  Park  Bridge  from  Fingle 
the  rambler  may  either  find  his  way  by  the  L.  bank  of  the  Teign  up- 
ward to  the  logan  under  Hunts  Tor  (S.  Ex.  67),  and  then  climb  up  to 
the  path  near  Combe  ;  or  he  may  strike  into  this  same  path  at  Fingle 
and  follow  it  along  the  side  of  Piddledown  Common). 

S.  Ex.  67. — Fingle  Bridge  by  way  of  Piddledown  Common.  (From 
Chagford).  7^  m.  Leaving  the  town  by  the  Moreton  road  the  visitor 
will  take  the  L.  branch  at  the  fork,  J  m.  from  the  Moor  Park  Hotel, 
and  descend  the  hill  to  Rushford  Bridge,  where  the  Teign  is  crossed. 
Just  beyond  is  Rushford  Mill,  one  approach  to  which  is  by  a  ford  and 
stepping-stones,  and  here  a  path  i«  carried  down  the  L,.  bank  of  the 
river.  This  is  followed  for  about  £  m.  to  the  Moreton  and  Okehampton 
road  at  Dogamarsh  Bridge,  or  as  it  is  often  called,  Sandy  Park  Bridge, 
from  its  proximity  to  the  hamlet  of  that  name  (L.)  The  road  is  crossed, 
and  the  path  still  followed.  This  now  gradually  leaves  the  river, 
which  a  little  further  down  enters  Fingle  Gorge.  Passing  Combe  Vale, 
through  which  a  streamlet  runs,  the  rambler  will  reach  Hunts  Tor, 
where  the  scene  is  particularly  wild.  The  great  mass  looks  down  upon 
the  Teign,  which  here  rushes  impetuously  over  its  boulder-strewn  bed, 
to  hide  itself  in  the  depths  of  the  narrow  ravine,  where  the  folding 
hills  rise,  bare  in  places  and  in  others  show  a  covering  of  heather  or 
coppice.  Opposite  to  the  tor  is  Whiddon  Wood,  as  this  part  of  the 
park  is  called,  where  sturdy  oaks  grow  on  the  steep  amid  a  wilderness 
of  rocks.  From  this  point  the  path  runs  onward  over  the  side  of  Piddle- 
down  Common  to  Fingle  Bridge,  about  ii  m.  down,  Sharp  Tor  being 
passed  on  the  way.  Should  the  rambler  prefer  to  make  the  river  his 
companion,  by  finding  a  passage  through  the  bottom  of  the  gorge, 
he  may  either  follow  it  from  Dogamarsh  Bridge,  or  descend  to  it  on 
reaching  the  little  vale  of  Combe.  By  doing  this  he  will  pass  close  to 
the  logan,  a  great  rock  in  its  bed  under  Hunts  Tor,  which,  having  been 
noticed  by  Polwhele,  who  was  imbued  with  Druidic  ideas,  was  for 
long  looked  upon  as  an  object  once  connected  with  mysterious  rites. 
In  1 797  he  was  able  to  move  it  easily  ;  it  still  oscillates,  but  has  lost 
much  of  its  former  "  logging  "  power.  This  route  by  the  river,  which 
is  not  of  the  easiest  description,  will  lead  the  rambler  under  Sharp  Tor. 
The  scenery  all  the  way  down  is  exceedingly  fine,  and  from  no  point 
is  Prestonbury  seen  to  such  advantage  as  from  the  bottom  of  this 
romantic  gorge.  The  return  from  Fingle  Bridge  is  given  in  S.  Ex.  66. 
(The  little  stream  falling  into  the  Teign  above  Dogamarsh  Bridge  is 
known  as  White  Water  ;  very  near  to  it  is  Dogamarsh  Wood). 

S.  Ex.  68. — Drewsteignton.  (From  Chagford).  8  m.  (If  the 
return  is  by  way  of  the  dolmen  the  distance  will  be  about  i  m.  more). 
The  first  point  is  Dogamarsh  Bridge,  as  in  S.  Ex.  67.  This  bridge, 
which  was  built  about  1816,  replaces  one  which  an  old  drawing  shows 
to  have  consisted  of  three  arches,  as  stated  by  Polwhele.  It  was 
situated  a  little  further  up  the  stream  than  the  present  structure. 


BANKS   OF   TEIGN.      DREWSTEIGNTON.  45 

Here  the  rambler  may  either  make  his  way  by  the  Combe  path 
(S.  Ex.  67),  or  he  may  turn  L,.  to  Sandy  Park  and  follow  the  road. 
In  the  former  case  he  will,  on  reaching  Combe  Vale,  turn  up  the  path 
L.  by  Combe  Farm,  in  one  of  the  fields  of  which  is  a  heap  of  rocks 
called  the  Pixies'  Parlour,  where  a  labourer,  so  a  story  says,  aided  by 
the  darkness,  once  caught,  as  he  thought,  one  of  that  elfin  race  ;  but 
his  prize  turned  out  to  be  a  tame  rabbit  belonging  to  his  master's 
little  son.  Above  Combe  Farm  the  rambler  passes  Hundred  Acre 
Plantation,  R.,  and  soon  reaches  the  road,  where  he  will  turn  R.  to 
Drewsteignton,  i£  m.  distant.  If  he  chooses  the  road  he  will  branch 
R.  at  the  inn  at  Sandy  Park,  and  in  about  i  m.  will  arrive  at  the  point 
where  the  path  comes  up  R.  from  Combe. 

The  village  of  Drewsteignton  is  placed  on  high  ground,  and  some 
fine  views  are  obtained  from  several  points  near  it,  especially  E.  of  the 
church.  This,  which  has  a  Perpendicular  tower  and  nave  with  a 
modern  chancel,  stands  at  the  end  of  the  village  street.  In  a  charm- 
ing little  book  by  Mr.  E.  Tozer,  who  wrote  under  the  pen-name  of 
"Tickler,"  published  in  1869,  the  ringers'  rules  which  hang  in  the 
belfry  are  given. 

The  name  of  the  parish  is  in  part  derived  from  its  former  posses- 
sors, though  when  antiquaries  believed  that  such  things  as  tolmens, 
logans,  and  rock  basins  formed  part  of  the  paraphernalia  of  Druidism 
they  gave  the  name  quite  another  meaning.  They  gravely  told  us 
that  it  meant  the  Druids'  town  on  the  Teign.*  But  at  a  very  early 
period  it  belonged  to  Drogo,  or  Dru,  the  second  son  of  Walter  de  Ponz, 
and  the  grandson  of  Richard,  Duke  of  Normandy.  Walter  de  Ponz, 
who  was  Earl  of  Arques  and  Thoulouse,  had  three  sons,  of  whom  Dru 
was  the  second,  and  from  him  the  family  of  Drew  of  Devonshire  are 
descended.  At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  he  had  seventy- 
three  manors  in  the  county.  The  name  is  variously  spelt  in  parish 
records,  Dru,  Drue,  Drewe,  and  Drew.  Drewsteignton  is  simply 
Drew's  Teign  town,  and  its  connection  with  the  Druids  a  dream  of  the 
dry-as-dusts  of  other  days.  In  Domesday  the  manor  appears  as 
Teintona,  and  thus,  as  Sir  William  Pole  observes,  the  place  "  both 
gave  and  tooke  name  of  the  possessor  thereof. "f 

To  return  direct  to  Chagford  the  visitor  will  follow  the  western 
road,  and  branch  L.  at  the  fork,  to  Sandy  Park.  Here  he  will  not  cross 
the  bridge,  but  strike  into  the  river  side  path,  which  will  bring  him  to 
Rushford  Mill  and  the  bridge  of  that  name.  Crossing  this  he  will  pass 
up  the  hill  to  the  town. 

[The  Spinsters'  Rock.  This  dolmen  is  about  2%  m.  from  Chagford. 
From  Drewsteignton  the  western  road  is  followed  as  above,  but  at 
the  forks  the  R.  branch  must  be  taken.  For  the  next  i  \  m.  turn  neither 
R.  nor  L.  Then  Stone  Cross  is  reached  just  beyond  Stone  Farm, 
which  lies  L.  The  road  goes  on  to  Whiddon  Down,  i^  m.,  but  the 

*  Stanton  Drew,  a  few  miles  south  of  Bristol,  where  are  some 
striking  stone  circles,  has  also  been  claimed  as  a  Druids'  town — a 
Druids'  stone  town — and  probably  with  as  much  reason  as  Drew- 
steignton has  been  so  regarded. 

|  Collections  towards  a  Description  of  the  County  of  Devon.  By 
Sir  William  Pole,  of  Colcombe  and  Shute,  1791.  Sir  William  died  in 
1635 


46  BANKS   OF   TEIGN.      SPINSTERS'    ROCK. 

visitor  will  strike  into  the  lane  L.     About  £  m.  on,  and  near  the  entrance 
to  Shilston  Farm,  the  dolmen  will  be  seen  in  a  field  L.  (S.  Ex.  69).] 

S.  Ex.  69. — The  Spinsters'  Rock  and  Bradford  Pool.  (From  Chag- 
ford).  6  m.  The  way  lies  first  to  Chagford  Bridge  and  up  Walland 
Hill,  but  instead  of  turning  L,.  to  Murchington  the  visitor  will  keep 
straight  on  to  Sands  Gate,  where  he  reaches  the  road  coming  up 
R.  from  Sandy  Park  and  running  on  to  Whiddon  Down  and  Oke- 
hampton.  There  are  several  branch  lanes  between  Walland  Hill  and 
this  point,  but  if  it  be  remembered  that  the  road  runs  nearly  N.  there 
will  be  no  danger  of  turning  into  these.  Cross  the  road  at  Sands  Gate 
and  enter  the  lane.  The  dolmen,  which  stands  on  Shilston  Farm, 
will  be  seen  R.  less  than  £  m.  on. 

With  the  exception  of  that  within  the  gate  at  Dunnabridge  Pound, 
(Ex.  42),  which  some  will  perhaps  be  disinclined  to  regard  as  a  dolmen, 
this  Drewsteignton  example  is  the  only  one  in  the  Dartmoor  country, 
or,  indeed,  in  Devon,  that  is  not  found  in  a  ruined  condition.  And 
even  this  is  a  restoration.  In  January,  1862,  it  fell,  and  was  re-erected 
during  the  same  year,  the  work  being  completed  in  the  November 
following.  The  expense  of  this  was  borne  by  the  late  Mrs.  Bragg,  of 
Furlong,  the  owner  of  Shilston,  and  it  was  superintended  by  the  rector, 
the  Rev.  WTilliam  Ponsford.  John  Ball,  a  carpenter,  and  William 
Stone,  a  builder,  both  of  Chagford,  carried  out  the  work,  an  account 
of  which  is  given  in  a  paper  contributed  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Ormerod 
to  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Archceological  Institute,  in  1872.  It  is 
rather  humiliating  to  reflect  that  what  could  only  be  accomplished  by 
the  men  of  the  nineteenth  century  with  an  expenditure  of  much  labour 
and  time,  was  in  the  "dim  old  days"  effected  by  three  women  one 
morning  before  breakfast.  According  to  the  legend  this  monument 
was  raised  by  three  spinsters,  not  necessarily  unmarried  women,  but 
spinners  of  yarn — a  calling  which  the  original  narrator  of  the  story  also 
appears  to  have  followed.  Being  on  their  way  homeward  from  the 
yarn-jobber,  and  seeing  the  great  stones  lying  on  the  ground,  they 
diverted  themselves  with  building  the  dolmen.  The  legend  is  first 
related  by  William  Chappie,  in  1779,  who  says  that  the  monument  was 
then  known  as  the  Spinsters'  Rock.*  But  he  derived  the  name  from 
some  Celtic  words  having  much  the  same  sound,  and  which  he  says 
mean  an  open  observatory,  or  star-gazing  place.  Whether  this  throws 
any  light  upon  the  matter — other  than  moonshine — I  am  not  prepared 
to  say,  but  it  is  only  right  to  mention  that  this  belief  that  our  ancient 
stone  monuments  had  some  astronomical  signification,  has  lately  again 
engaged  the  attention  of  antiquaries.  Polwhele  refers  to  another 
story  connected  with  the  dolmen, -J-  and  probably  an  older  one  of  which 
the  foregoing  is  a  variant.  He  quotes  a  writer  as  stating  that  the 
monument  was  said  to  have  been  erected  by  three  young  men  who 
came  down  with  their  father  from  the  hills  of  Dartmoor,  whence  they 
brought  the  stones,  and  this  it  was  thought  had  reference  to  the  old 
man  and  his  sons  who  descended  from  the  mountain  on  which  the  ark 
had  rested. 

*  Description  and  Exegesis  of  the  Drewsteignton  Cromlech.  Exeter, 
1779.  The  author  died  before  the  work  was  completed. 

f  History  of  Devonshire.     Vol.  II.      1793  1806.     (3  vols.) 


BANKS   OF   TEIGN.      RUSHFORD    WOOD.  47 

The  impost,  or  capstone,  of  the  dolmen  is  15  feet  in  length,  and 
its  under  surface  is  about  six  feet  from  the  ground.  Its  weight  is 
computed  to  be  rather  over  16  tons. 

According  to  several  accounts  there  were  formerly  some  stone 
rows  and  circles  near  the  dolmen.  These  were  noticed  in  1789  by  the 
Rev.  John  Swete,  of  Oxton  House,  who  in  that  year  visited  the  spot 
while  on  a  tour  into  North  Devon,  and  four  years  afterwards  were 
described  by  Polwhele.  They  were  also  mapped  by  the  Rev.  W.  Grey, 
of  Exeter,  in  1838.  Some  twenty  years  later  search  was  made  for 
these  remains  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Ormerod,  but  the  stones  had  then  dis- 
appeared. 

On  the  further  side  of  the  lane  that  runs  N.  of  the  dolmen  is  Brad- 
ford Pool,  said  to  be  about  three  acres  in  extent.  It  is  of  a  rectangular 
shape,  and  about  180  yards  long  by  40  yards  wide,  and  is  really  an  old 
mining  excavation.  The  trees  by  which  it  is  surrounded  do  much  to 
conceal  its  artificial  character,  and  render  it  a  truly  romantic  spot. 
When  visited  by  Mr.  Swete  the  pool  had  been  drained,  but  the  accumu- 
lation of  water  in  it  seems  to  have  taken  place  soon  after  that  time, 
and  was  occasioned  by  the  stopping  of  an  adit  which  runs  under  Shils- 
ton  Farm.  The  existence  of  this  adit  probably  gave  rise  to  the  belief 
once  prevalent  in  the  locality  that  a  subterranean  passage  ran  from 
the  pool  to  the  Teign  under  Hunts  Tor.  Similarly  the  story  of  a 
secret  passage  formerly  said  to  lead  from  Gidleigh  Castle  to  the  Teign 
at  Gidleigh  Park  Bridge,  seems  to  have  been  suggested  by  some  old 
mining  excavations  near  the  last-named  spot. 

The  return  from  the  dolmen  will  be  by  way  of  the  lane  running 
southward  to  Sands  Gate,  where  the  road  coming  R.  from  Whiddon 
down  and  going  L.  to  Sandy  Park  is  crossed.  Keep  straight  on,  the 
course  being  nearly  S.,  to  Walland  Hill,  about  i£  m.,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  is  Chagford  Bridge. 

S.  Ex.  70. — Rushford  Wood.  (From  Chagford).  i£  m.  The 
way  lies  over  Rushford  Bridge  as  in  S.  Ex.  67,  but  instead  of  striking 
into  the  river  path  at  the  mill,  the  road  must  be  followed  to  Rushford 
Barton,  once  the  seat  of  the  Hoares,  a  family  which  settled  here  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  II.*  The  visitor  now  turns  L.  to  the  wood,  through 
which  he  may  pass  up  to  Rushford  Tower.  No  antiquarian  interest 
attaches  to  this  ;  in  fact,  the  building  is  quite  modern,  but  a  fine  view 
is  obtained  from  it,  and  it  also  forms  an  interesting  feature  in  the 
picture  seen  from  Chagford.  North  of  it  a  strip  of  turf  was  formerly 
known  as  the  Bowling  Green,  and  a  basin 'in  one  of  the  rocks  with 
which  this  was  dotted,  as  the  Punch  Bowl.  (Near  Mount  Flaggon,  on 
the  road  to  Torhill  and  Goosaford,  is  the  Rushford  Manor  Pound, 
modern). 

On  returning  to  Rushford  Mill  the  visitor,  instead  of  crossing  the 
bridge,  may  turn  R.  into  a  path  by  which  he  will  be  led  along  the  left, 
or  north,  bank  of  the  Teign  to  Chagford  Bridge,  and  so  make  his  way 
to  the  town. 


*  This  interesting  old  house  was  unfortunately  destroyed  by  fire 
in  September,  1913.  but  has  since  been  rebuilt. 


48  CHAGFORD    AND    MORETON    DISTRICT. 


Routes  from  Chagford  and  Moreton. 

(The  road  between  these  two  places  has  already  been  described.     The 

Route  distances  do  not  include  the  return.     The  rambler  is  supposed 

to  be  provided  with  a  compass). 

R.  31. — To  Bovey  Tracey,  S.E.  from  Moreton.  Hayne,  Wray 
Barton,  Wray  Cleave,  Kelly,  Blade,  King's  Cross,  Woolley,  Atway. 
Prom  C.,  n  m. ;  M.,  6\  m.  Reverse,  R.  46. 

This  is  a  road  route,  and  few  directions  are  needed.  From  More- 
ton  the  way  lies  by  the  Railway  Station,  and  down  the  valley  of  the 
Wray,  with  Wray  Cleave  L.,  for  3^  m.,  where  a  road  runs  R.  to  Lust- 
leigh.  The  route  is  then  by  Kelly  and  Slade,  at  each  of  which  points 
there  are  guide-posts.  At  King's  Cross,  where  is  a  milestone  (i  m. 
from  Bovey),  the  visitor  must  bear  I,,  to  Woolley.  At  that  spot  he 
will  also  bear  I,.,  but  take  the  next  turning  R. 

R.  32.— To  Ashburton,  S.S.E.  from  Chagford  ;  S.  from  Moreton. 
Beetor  Cross,  Barramoor  Bridge,  Heytree  Cross.  (From  Moreton : 
North  Bovey,  Langstone,  Hayne  Down).  Swine  Down  Gate,  Hems- 
worthy  Gate,  Cold  East  Cross,  Welstor  Cross.  From  C.,  I2j  m.  ;  from 
M.,  ii£  m.  Reverse,  R.  53. 

[Objects :  S.  Ex.  61,  Ex.  23  to  26.] 

Although  this  is  a  road  route  the  greater  part  of  it  lies  over  the 
moor.     The  visitor  will  pass  up  the  hill  S.,  having  Nattadon  I/,  and 
Meldon  R.,  and  make  his  way  to  Beetor  Cross,  2^  m.  q.v.     Here  the 
road  runs  L.  to  Moreton,  and  R.  to  Princetown,  but  he  will  strike  into 
the  one  running  L.  below  the  cross,  i.e.,  S.E.,  and  follow  it  for  a  few 
score  yards  when  he  will  turn  R.,  and  in  about  2\  m.  will  reach  Heytree 
Cross  (Ex.  24).     (This  2\  m.  of  road  pursues  a  S.S.E.  direction,  and  the 
turnings,  all  of  which  the  rambler  will  avoid,  are  as  follow:  First  L. 
to  Hele  ;  then  cross  Barramoor  Bridge  ;  Second  L.  to  Gratnar  ;  Third, 
a  cross  road — L.  to  North  Bovey  and  R.  to  Shapley  and  Westcombe 
Down  ;  Fourth  L.  to  Langdon  Farm  and  North  Bovey  ;  Fifth,  I/,  to 
Easdon  Farm  and  Manatbn  ;  and  Sixth,  R.  to  Vogwell,  from  which 
turning  Heytree  Cross  is  \  m.   distant).     A  little  way  beyond  this 
cross  road  is  the  farm  of  Fordgate,  and  when  this  is  passed  the  pedes- 
trian will  enter  upon  Cripdon  Down,  along  the  western  edge  of  which 
the  road  runs  for  about  \  m.  and  then  skirts  Swine  Down,  leaving  it  at 
Swine  Down  Gate.     (R.  25  and  Ex.  24).     On  passing  through  the  gate 
the  rambler  will  turn  southward,  having  Hound  Tor  (Ex.  24)  on  his  L. 
About  ij  m.  on  a  green  track  across  the  down  I,,  cuts  off  an  angle  of 
the  road,  and  in  this  another,  marked  by  a  guide-post,  branches  west- 
ward to  Widecombe.     Soon  after  the  road  is  regained  Hemsworthy 
Gate  is  reached,  through  which  lies  the  way  to  Ilsington  and  Bovey 
Tracey  (Ex.  25,  S.  Ex.  82,  90).     Leaving  this  on  the  L.  the  rambler  will 
follow  the  road  southward  under  Rippon  Tor,  and  passing  the  ruins  of 
Newhouse,  on  the  verge  of  Blackslade  Down  R.  (Ex.  26},  will  reach 


ROUTE  33.   CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  BRENT.   49 

Cold  East  Cross,  i  £  m.  Here  a  road  comes  up  L.  from  Halshanger,  and 
another  runs  R.  to  Widecombe  (Ex.  26,  R.  5),  with  a  branch  to 
Cockingford  (R.  5,  42)  and  the  forest.  The  rambler  will  keep  to  the 
road  he  has  been  following,  its  course  here  being  about  S.W.,  and  in 
about  i£  m.  will  reach  Welstor  Cross,  where  he  will  turn  R.  into  the 
road  leading  from  Buckland  to  Ashburton,  and  then  almost  immediately 
turn  L.  and  follow  it  to  his  destination.  (Vfde  Ashburton  District). 

From  Moreton  the  road  lies  through  North  Bovey  (S.  Ex.  61), 
and  joins  the  one  just  described  at  Swine  Down  Gate.  Langstone  is 
the  first  point  from  North  Bovey,  about  i  m.  S.S.E.,  Aller  and  Higher 
and  Lower  I/uckdon  being  passed  on  the  way,  and  here  the  visitor  will 
turn  R.  to  Langstone  Cross,  \  m.  At  both  points  there  is  a  guide-post. 
He  will  here  turn  L.,  and  on  reaching  the  forks  a  little  way  down,  will 
strike  into  the  R.  branch,  which  will  shortly  bring  him  to  Hayne  Down. 
Across  this  his  road  runs  direct  to  Swine  Down  Gate,  i \  m.  S.,  Bower- 
man's  Nose  being  passed  on  the  way  (Ex.  23). 

R.  33. — To  Brent  and  Ivybridge.  Brent,  S.  ;  Ivybridge,  S.  by 
W.  ;  with  branch  to  Cornwood,  S.S.W.  To  BRENT  :  Jurston  Gate, 
Challacombe,  Jordan,  Ponsworthy,  Pound's  Gate,  Holne,  Cross  Furzes, 
Gigley  Bridge.  From  C.,  19  m.  ;  from  M.,  by  Moor  Gate,  20  m.  ;  a 
nearer  way  from  M.  is  through  Widecombe  (See  R.  64).  To  IVYBRIDGE  : 
Jurston  Gate,  Warren  House  Inn,  Post  Bridge,  Dunnabridge  Pound, 
Sherburton  Bridge,  Hexworthy,  Aune  Head,  Red  Lake,  by  the  Erme  to 
Harford.  From  C.,  23%  m.  ;  from  M.,  by  Moor  Gate,  25  m.  To 
CORNWOOD  :  from  Red  Lake  over  Stall  Moor,  from  C.,  22  m.  ;  from 
M.,  by  Moor  Gate,  23^  m.  Reverse,  R.  64. 

[Objects  :  Exs.  22,  27,  28,  Holne  Moor  Section,  and  S.  Exs.  from 
Brent.  If  to  Ivybridge,  Exs.  22,  21,  45,  44,  42,  43,  30,  32  ;  and  if  to 
Cornwood  add  Ex.  33.] 

To  BRENT.  The  road  to  Jurston  Gate  as  already  described  must 
first  be  followed,  where  the  pedestrian  will  cross  the  valley,  as  directed 
in  S.  Ex.  59,  to  the  point  where  the  road  to  Challacombe,  Grendon, 
and  Cator  leaves  the  Moreton  and  Princetown  highway.  Here  the 
visitor  from  Moreton  will  jom.  This  Challacombe  road  must  then 
be  followed,  the  rambler  having  Shapley  Common  on  his  L-,  and  the 
upper  waters  of  a  branch  of  the  Bovey  on  his  R.  About  i^  m.  on  the 
road  crosses  Grim's  Lake  at  Firth  Bridge,  Grim's  Pound  (Ex.  22) 
lying  on  the  slope  L.,  and  Headland  Warren  House  in  the  valley  R. 
At  Challacombe,  about  i  m.  further  down,  the  road  forks.  The 
rambler  must  take  the  L.  branch,  which  will  bring  him  to  Lower 
Blackaton,  i  m.  (T.  76).  Still  keeping  southward  his  course  for  yet 
another  mile  will  be  on  the  line  of  R.  26,  and  will  bring  him  to  Dunstone 
Down,  when  he  will  turn  R.  (The  first  turning  R.  leads  to  Cator  ;  the 
second  R.  is  a  track  running  down  a  stroll  to  Rowden  Down  ;  these  he 
must  pass).  At  the  point  where  he  will  leave  the  road  a  track  comes 
down  from  the  N.E.  Route  26  runs  on  over  Bittleford  Down,  but  we 
must  now  desert  it  and  strike  S.  by  W.  down  a  narrow  lane  between 
some  enclosures  to  Jordan  Mill,  just  before  reaching  which  our  way  is 
crossed  by  another  lane.  Passing  the  mill  the  visitor  will  proceed  to 
the  Widecombe  and  Ponsworthy  road,  £  m.  distant,  where  he  will  turn 
R.  down  the  hill,  and  in  another  \  m.  will  reach  the  last-named  village 
(Ex.  27).  Passing  through  this  little  place  we  ascend  the  hill  and  keep 
L.  towards  Leusdon  Church,  but  bearing  R.  just  before  reaching  it. 

•8 


So    ROUTE  33.     CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  IVYBRIDGE. 

The  way  lies  by  Spitchwick  Higher  Lodge  to  the  hamlet  of  Pound's 
Gate,  whence  the  road  runs  by  the  Tavistock  Inn  down  the  hill,  with 
I^eign  Tor  L.  to  New  Bridge  (R.  6  A).  Immediately  after  crossing  the 
bridge  a  path  will  be  seen  R.  running  through  the  wood  close  to  the 
Dart.  This  will  lead  the  rambler  up  to  some  fields,  and  near  to  Holne 
Cot,  on  passing  which  he  will  emerge  upon  a  lane.  A  few  yards  L.  is 
a  branch  into  which  he  will  turn,  and  very  speedily  reach  Holne 
village.  (Vide  S.  Ex.  96).  Passing  through  this  to  Play  Cross  the 
pedestrian  turns  L.,  and  a  few  score  yards  on,  when  at  the  top  of 
Langaford  Hill,  takes  the  road  R.  This  will  lead  him  to  Holy  Brook 
Bridge  and  Scorriton,  just  beyond  which  he  will  cross  Combe  Bridge 
and  ascend  the  long  steep  lane  to  Cross  Furzes,  taking  care  not  to 
branch  L.  when  nearing  the  top.  At  the  cross,  where  is  an  old  guide- 
stone,  a  lane  comes  from  Lid  Gate,  on  the  moor  edge,  R.,  and  two  run  L., 
one  to  Buckfast  and  the  other  to  Buckfastleigh,  the  latter  going  over 
Wallaford  Dowr.  The  rambler  will  descend  the  side  of  the  furze- 
covered  space,  to  a  ford  on  the  Dean  Burn,  and  will  ascend  the  track 
leading  up  towards  the  ruined  Lambs  Down  Farm  (S.  Ex.  101).  Before 
reaching  it  a  footpath  will  be  seen  branching  L.  and  running  down  to 
a  small  tributary  rivulet,  where  is  a  hunting  gate,  and  this  must  be 
followed.  The  path  leads  to  a  green  track  that  comes  from  the  moor 
R.,  which  will  be  struck  by  keeping  near  the  wall,  R.  This  track,  the 
direction  of  which  is  S.E.,  the  pedestrian  will  follow  over  Skerraton 
Down  to  a  lane  in  the  corner,  and  entering  this  will  proceed  for  £  m.  to  a 
turning  R.,  which  will  bring  him  immediately  to  Gigley  Bridge.  From 
this  point  the  way  to  Brent  is  described  in  S.  Ex.  103. 

To  IVYBRIDGE.  As  in  the  route  to  Brent  the  visitor  will  first 
make  his  way  to  Jurston  Gate,  but  will  not  then  desert  the  highway. 
His  road,  in  fact,  will  be  the  same  as  that  described  in  R.  35  as  far 
as  Post  Bridge.  (This  also  applies  to  Moreton  visitors).  Then,  on 
crossing  the  East  Dart,  he  will  enter  the  gate  L.  and  follow  the  green 
track  by  Bellaford  Tor  to  Dunnabridge  Pound,  as  described  in  T.  80  and 
Ex.  44.  On  emerging  from  the  newtakes  on  the  Two  Bridges  and  Dart- 
meet  road,  he  will  turn  L.  for  a  few  score  yards,  and  passing  Brown- 
berry,  will  enter  a  gate  R.  and  descend  to  the  West  Dart,  which  is 
spanned  by  a  clam  just  below  where  it  makes  a  sharp  bend.  On 
crossing  this  the  rambler  will  find  himself  on  land  belonging  to  Sher- 
burton  Farm  ;  a  path  leads  along  the  hillside  to  the  house.  Below, 
on  the  L.,  is  the  confluence  of  the  Dart  and  the  Swincombe,  marked 
by  the  plantation  known  as  Sherburton  Firs.  Having  reached  the 
farmhouse  the  rambler  will  descend  the  road  to  Sherburton  Bridge, 
whence  he  will  pass  upward  to  Gobbet  Plain,  below  which  is  the 
delightfully  situated  forest  settlement  of  Hexworthy. 

[Hexivorthy  to  Ivybridge.  The  part  of  this  route  that  follows  forms 
the  reverse  of  the  route  from  Ivybridge  to  Hexworthy.  Vide  R.  64, 
and  Brent  and  Ivybridge,  and  Hexworthy  Districts.] 

The  first  part  of  the  journey  from  Hexworthy  is  described  in  T.  54. 
This  will  bring  the  rambler  to  Aune  Head,  from  which  point  he  will 
follow  the  Avon  down  for  about  \\  m.  to  Heng  Lake  Gully,  keeping 
on  the  R.  bank.  (For  a  description  of  the  mire  at  Aune  Head  and  the 


ROUTE  33.     CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  CORNWOOD.    51 

upper  part  of  the  stream  see  Ex.  43).  The  gully,  which  is  on  the 
R.  bank  of  the  Avon,  will  be  reached  just  before  the  river  makes  a 
rather  rapid  descent.  It  is  covered  with  granite,  and  a  little  tributary 
runs  through  it.  The  visitor  will  make  his  way  nearly  to  its  head, 
where  on  the  L.  he  will  find  a  narrow  strip  of  hard  ground  leading 
across  Red  Lake  Mire.  By  means  of  this  he  will  be  able  to  reach 
Green  Hill  (Ex.  30)  without  trouble,  when  he  will  turn  southward,  with 
the  mire  close  to  him  on  the  L.  This  will  bring  him  to  Red  Lake, 
near  the  ford  (T.  i),  and  he  may  now  either  follow  the  brook  to  the 
Erme,  and  crossing  that  stream  pass  downward  to  Green  Bottom, 
|-  m.  below  the  confluence,  and  so  make  his  way  to  Harford  Bridge, 
as  described  in  R.  7  ;  or  he  may  cross  Red  Lake,  and  strike  S.  over 
Brown  Heath  to  Stony  Bottom,  and  thence  proceed  to  Harford  village 
There  is  little  difference  in  the  length  of  these  routes.  In  the  latter 
case  the  visitor,  after  crossing  Stony  Bottom  (Ex.  32)  (which  is  about 
I  m.  from  the  ford  over  the  brook,  and  runs  E.  and  W.,  and  which 
should  be  reached  at  a  point  rather  over  £  m.  E.  of  the  Erme),  should 
endeavour  to  strike  the  track  running  out  from  Harford  to  Erme 
Pound  (T.  63).  This  he  may  do  if  he  gradually  approaches  the  line 
of  bondstones  that  he  will  notice  on  his  L.,  which  mark  the  boundary 
between  Harford  and  Ugborough  Moors,  as  the  two  intersect  each 
other  about  £  m.  southward  of  the  bottom.  At  all  events  the  stones 
will  prove  a  sufficient  guide,  and  by  following  up  the  row  the  rambler 
will  be  led  to  the  dip  between  Three  Barrows,  L.,  and  Sharp  Tor,  R., 
through  which  the  track  runs.  Less  than  \  m.  southward  of  Sharp 
Tor  it  forks,  and  here  the  R.  branch  must  be  followed.  Harford 
Church,  if  m.  distant,  may  now  be  seen  S.W.,  and  to  this  the  track 
will  lead  direct.  (See  note  at  end  of  R.  38). 

[Hexworthy  to  Brent,  by  way  of  Aune  Head.  From  Heng  Lake, 
ante,  the  rambler  will  follow  the  Avon  downward,  keeping  on  the  L. 
bank,  until  he  passes  Small  Brook,  over  4  m.,  where  a  bondstone 
will  be  seen  close  to  the  confluence.  He  will  soon  after  cross  the  river, 
and  follow  it  to  Zeal  Gate,  at  Shipley.  (See  note  at  end  of  R.  38).  Or 
he  may  leave  the  river  below  him  on  the  L.  after  passing  Heng  Lake 
Gully,  and  make  his  way  along  the  brow  of  the  hill  southward  to  Western 
Whitaburrow,  where  he  will  strike  the  old  tram-road  (T.  60,  Ex.  30), 
which  he  may  follow  to  Shipley  as  in  R.  7.] 

To  CORKWOOD.  If  his  destination  be  Cornwood  the  pedestrian 
will  follow  the  Ivybridge  route  as  far  as  Red  Lake  Ford.  He  must 
then  trace  the  stream  down  to  the  Erme,  which  he  should  cross  either 
near  the  confluence,  or  at  the  ford  below  Erme  Pound,  about  £  m. 
lower  down.  From  here  a  track  runs  over  Stall  Moor  (T.  66),  and 
this  will  lead  him  to  Watercombe  Waste  Gate,  3^  m.  distant.  Should 
the  rambler  not  be  able  to  strike  this  track  at  first  his  best  plan  will 
be  to  follow  the  Erme  downward,  keeping  high  above  the  right  bank 
after  crossing  Green  Bottom,  £  m.  below  the  fording  place,  as  by  so 
doing  he  will  not  fail  to  notice  the  long  stone  row  leading  to  the  circle 
described  in  Ex.  33.  This  row  here  runs  N.  and  S.,  and  is  nearly 
parallel  to  the  track,  which  is  only  about  200  yards  W.  of  it.  As 
progress  is  made  the  path  becomes  plainer,  but  the  rambler  cannot  go 
wrong  if  he  keeps  well  to  the  R.  or  W.  of  Stalldon  Barrow,  the  high 


52     ROUTE  34.     CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  PLYMPTON. 

hill  he  sees  rising  before  him.  When  the  track  draws  near  Harrow- 
thorn  Plantation  and  Dendles  Wood  it  is  crossed  by  another  coming 
R.  from  the  direction  of  Yealm  Head.  Here  the  pedestrian  will  keep 
L.,  and  about  i  m.  further  on  will  reach  the  moor  gate  at  Watercombe, 
from  which  a  road  leads  to  Corn  wood,  not  quite  2  m.  distant  (Ex.  34). 

R.  34. — To  Plympton  and  Shaugh,  S.W.  by  S.  ;  with  branch  to 
Cornwood,  S.S.W.  Jurston  Gate,  Warren  House  Inn,  Post  Bridge, 
Cherry  Brook,  Prince  Hall  Bridge,  Peat  Cot,  Siward's  Cross,  Plym 
Steps,  Hen  Tor,  Great  Trowlesworthy  Tor,  Blackabrook  Head,  Shaugh 
Moor,  Brag  Lane  End,  Niel  Gate.  To  Plympton,  25!-  m.  ;  to  Shaugh, 
21  m.  ;  to  Cornwood,  2i£  m.  From  Moreton,  i-j-  m.  more.  Reverse, 
R.  71. 

[Objects :  Exs.  22,  45,  44,  46,  4,  3,  37,  36.     If  to  Cornwood  add 

34,  35-1 

By  Jurston  Gate,  following  the  Princetown  route,  R.  35,  to  the 
entrance  to  the  old  Powder  Mills,  f  m.  south-westward  of  the  bridge 
over  the  Cherry  Brook.  Just  beyond  this  the  rambler  will  cross 
Muddy  Lakes  Newtake,  L-,  as  in  R.  27,  and  follow  the  directions  given 
there  for  reaching  Tor  Royal  Newtake  by  way  of  Moorlands  and  Prince 
Hall.  But  when  he  enters  that  newtake  he  will  steer  S.W.  by  W. 
across  it  for  i£  m.,  leaving  Royal  Hill,  1,333  feet,  the  highest  part  of 
it,  on  the  L.  (The  rambler  must  be  careful  not  to  bear  too  much  to 
the  L.  when  nearing  the  end  of  this  i  £  m.,  or  he  will  get  among  the  turf 
ties,  which  will  hinder  his  progress).  This  will  bring  him  to  the  wall 
of  some  enclosures  belonging  to  Tor  Royal  (Exs.  3,  4),  which  runs  S. 
and  then  turns  abruptly  W.  He  will  follow  this  to  the  Devonport 
Leat,  along  the  bank  of  which  is  a  path,  which  will  bring  him  to  Peat 
Cot,  a  short  distance  S.  From  this  little  settlement  the  rambler  will 
proceed  in  a  south-westerly  direction  for  rather  less  than  £  m..,  when 
he  will  turn  S.,  and  in  another  £  m.  will  reach  Siward's  Cross  (T.  i, 
Ex.  2,  Extension).  From  this  point  the  way  lies  over  Eylesbarrow 
and  Higher  Hart  Tor  to  the  Plym,  and  thence  onward  to  Shaver- 
combe  and  Hen  Tor,  and  is  described  in  R.  7.  The  direction  is 
S.  by  W. 

[The  rambler  bound  for  Cornwood  will  branch  off  at  Hen  Tor, 
and  follow  the  directions  given  in  R.  7,  his  way  lying  over  Shell  Top 
and  Pen  Beacon.] 

If  either  Plympton  or  Shaugh  be  the  point  to  be  reached  the 
rambler  will  not  find  it  necessary  to  make  direct  for  Hen  Tor  on  leaving 
Shavercombe  Brook  ;  it  will  be  better  for  him  to  pass  about  £  m.  below 
it,  i.e.,  to  the  W.  of  it,  and  near  the  ruined  buildings  known  as  Hen  Tor 
House  (Ex.  37).  From  this  point  he  will  strike  S.W.  by  W.,  and 
crossing  Hen  Tor  Brook  will  pass  over  Willing's  Hill  to  Great  Trowles- 
worthy Tor,  i  m.,  close  to  which  is  the  source  of  Spanish  Lake.  Little 
Trowlesworthy  Tor  will  be  seen  below  it,  and  further  down,  Trowles- 
worthy Warren  House  (Ex.  37).  The  course  is  now  about  S.W.  by 
W.,  to  the  head  of  Blackabrook,  \  m.  distant,  the  Lee  Moor  Clay 
Works  Leat  being  crossed  on  the  way.  (There  are  some  foot  bridges 
over  it  here).  Less  than  another  \  m.,  the  course  being  about  the  same, 
will  bring  the  rambler  to  the  road  from  Dousland  (R.)  to  Cornwood  (L.)> 


ROUTE  35.     CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  PRINCETOWN.  53 

(R.  13).  This  he  will  cross,  and  strike  W.  by  S.  over  Shaugh  Moor  to 
Brag  Lane  End,  about  i  m.  (Ex.  36).  The  visitor  to  Shaugh  will  turn 
into  this  as  directed  in  R.  8.  For  Plympton  he  will  turn  L.  and  follow 
the  road  to  his  destination,  leaving  the  moor  at  Niel  Gate,  as  described 
in  the  same  route. 

R.  35. — To  Princetown,  S.W.  BY  ROAD.  Meldon,  Jurston 
Gate,  Bush  Down,  Bennet's  Cross,  Warren  House  Inn,  Stats  Brook, 
Meripit  Hill,  Post  Bridge,  Gawler  Bottom,  Bellaford  Tor,  Powder  Mills, 
Crockern  Tor,  Two  Bridges.  (The  road  from  Moreton  runs  by  Bughead 
Cross,  Worm  Hill,  Beetor  Cross,  Moor  Gate,  f-  m.  W.  of  which  it  joins 
the  one  from  Chagford).  From  C.,  12  m.  ;  from  M.,  134-  m.  Reverse, 
R.  4. 

[Objects  :  Exs.  22,  45,  44,  46,  5.] 

The  portion  of  this  route  from  Chagford  and  Moreton  to  the 
Warren  House  Inn  is  described  in  S.  Ex.  58. 

Shortly  after  leaving  the  Warren  House  Inn  we  cross  Stats  Brook, 
whence  the  road  is  carried  over  Meripit  Hill  to  the  hamlet  of  Post 
Bridge.  Crossing  the  East  Dart  close  to  the  well-known  clapper,  it 
ascends  the  hill,  with  Lakehead  on  the  I/.,  and  Archerton  R.  Soon 
Bellaford  Tor  is  seen  rising  L.,  on  the  R.  being  Gawler  Bottom.  We 
cross  the  Cherry  Brook,  and  passing  the  entrance  to  the  Powder  Mills 
f-  m.  further  on  soon  reach  Two  Bridges.  Branch  ~L,.  to  Princetown, 
i£  m. 

R.  36.— To  Tavistock,  W.S.W.  (A)  BY  ROAD.  Jurston  Gate, 
Warren  House  Inn,  Post  Bridge,  Two  Bridges,  Rundle  Stone,  Merivale. 
From  C.,  i8£  m.  ;  from  M.,  20  m.  Reverse,  R.  10  A.  (B)  FROM 
CHAGFORD  BY  WAY  OF  THE  MOOR.  Waye  Barton,  M  ether  al,  Assacombe, 
White  Ridge,  East  Dart,  Broad  Down,  Row  Tor,  Devil's  Tor,  Maiden 
Hill,  White  Barrow,  Peter  Tavy,  19  m.  From  Moreton  via  Chagford, 
as  above,  23*  m.  Reverse,  R.  10  B. 

[Objects":  (A)  Exs.  22,  21,  45,  46,  44,  5,  6,  i,  7,  8.  (B)  21,  46, 
5.  8.] 

(A)  By  road  to  Two  Bridges  as  in  R.  35.     Thence  the  road  branch- 
ing R.  is  followed  to  Rundle  Stone,  2  m.,  from  which  point  the  road 
to  Tavistock  is  shown  in  R.  i. 

(B)  The  first  part  of  this  route  is  described  in  the  notice  of  the 
road  from  Chagford  to  Metheral,  and  will  take  the  rambler  to  the  moor 
by  way  of  Waye  Barton  and  Tawton  Gate.     On  leaving  the  corner  of 
the  enclosures  just  beyond  Metheral  the  rambler  must  steer  S.W.  by 
W.,  with  Lowton  Rocks  on  his  R.,  and  in  \  m.  will  cross  Lowton  Brook. 
Assacombe  Brook  is  about  \  m.  further  on.     Crossing  this,  and  shortly 
afterwards  the  Vitifer  Mine  Leat,  the  rambler  will  pass  up  the  western 
side  of  the  combe,  with  a  wall  on  his  L.  running  S.W.  by  W.,  and  will 
soon  find  himself  on  White  Ridge  (Ex.  45).     He  will  now  steer  W.  by 
S.,  with  the  crest  of  the  ridge  L.  and  the  leat  R.  for  a  little  over  i  m., 
when  the  leat,  here  bending  southward,  will  be  directly  in  his  path. 
He  will  cross  it  and  steer  W.S.W.  for  i  m.  to  the  East  Dart,  which  it 
is  his  object  to  strike  at  the  head  of  the  pass  above  Sandy  Hole.     Care 
must  be  taken  not  to  bear  too  much  to  the  R.  in  passing  from  the 
leat  to  the  river.     Above  the  pass  (Ex.  45)  the  Dart  can  usually  be 
crossed  without  difficulty. 


54     ROUTE  37.     CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  LYDFORD. 

[If  the  visitor  cares  to  try  to  cross  the  Dart  at  Sandy  Hole  he  will 
steer  S.W.  from  the  leat,  but  the  safer  plan  is  to  aim  for  the  head  of 
the  pass.  A  more  direct  course  than  either  of  these,  if  the  river  can 
be  crossed,  is  to  strike  S.W.  from  the  point  where  the  wall  of  the  Assa- 
combe  enclosures  is  left,  and  White  Ridge  entered  upon,  i  m.  on  is 
Lade  Hill  bottom  (Ex.  45),  through  which  a  small  tributary  runs  down 
to  the  Dart.  Crossing  this,  and  still  steering  S.W.,  the  pedestrian  will 
shortly  have  the  river  on  his  L.  and  the  Vitifer  Leat  on  his  R.  (Ex.  45). 
Thence  he  will  pass  along  the  foot  of  Lade  Hill,  and  crossing  another 
small  stream,  will  strike  the  Dart  about  £  m.  from  Lade  Hill  Bottom, 
and  ±  m.  below  the  spot  where  the  leat  is  taken  in,  and  just  where  the 
river  begins  to  bend  and  run  towards  the  north.  Here  it  must  be 
crossed,  and  the  course  will  then  be  W.S.W.  over  Broad  Down  for  £  m. 
to  the  corner  of  the  wall  of  Wild  Banks  Newtake,  vide  post.] 

Having  reached  the  R.  bank  of  the  East  Dart  at  the  higher  end 
of  the  Sandy  Hole  pass,  and  just  below  Broad  Marsh  (Ex.  45),  the 
rambler  will  make  his  way  down  through  the  pass  to  the  hollow  nearly 
-J  m.  below,  and  there  he  will  leave  the  river.  His  way  now  lies  over 
Broad  Down,  the  course  being  S.S.W.,  to  the  corner  of  Wild  Banks 
Newtake,  which  he  will  reach  in  about  £  m.  He  will  then  follow  the 
wall  for  £  m.  W.S.W.  to  the  West  Dart,  and  crossing  that  river  will 
still  take  the  wall  for  his  guide.  This  will  lead  him  nearly  to  Row  Tor, 
Whence  he  will  make  his  way  W.  by  S.  to  Devil's  Tor,  abbut  \  m. 
distant.  Close  to  this  small  pile  is  Bear  Down  Man  (Ex.  5).  The 
course  is  now  W.S.W.  for  i  m.  The  Cowsic  is  first  crossed,  and  then 
the  southern  verge  of  Maiden  Hill,  the  line  running  a  little  to  the  N. 
of  Conies  Down  Tor.  This  will  bring  the  pedestrian  to  the  Lich  Path 
(T.  1 8),  which  must  be  followed  westward.  Immediately  after  crossing 
the  Prison  Leat  this  ancient  way  reaches  the  Walkham  at  Sandy 
Ford,  and  is  carried  up  the  western  side  of  the  shallow  valley  through 
which  that  river  runs  towards  White  Barrow,  From  this  ford  the  route 
to  Tavistock  has  already  been  described  (R.  30  B). 

R.  37. — To  Lydford,  W.  by  S.  Teigncombe,  Batworthy  Corner, 
Hew  Down,  Newtake,  Cranmere  Pool,  Great  Kneeset,  Amicombe  Hill, 
Rattle  Brook,  High  Down.  C.,  14^  m. ;  M.,  19  m.  Reverse,  R.  17. 

[Objects:  Exs.  20,  19,  12,  11,  and  in  C.R.  12,  5,  and  in  the  des- 
cription of  the  surroundings  of  Cranmere  in  the  section  dealing  with 
that  district.] 

This  route  is  composed  entirely  of  C.R.  12,  which  describes  the 
ground  between  Chagford  and  Cranmere,  and  C.R.  5,  which  notices  that 
between  the  Pool  and  Lydford,  and  to  these  the  rambler  is  referred. 

R.  38. — To  Okehampton,  with  branches  to  Sticklepath  and  Bel- 
stone,  N.W.  by  W. 

(A)  Road  to  Shilstone  Tor,  North  end  of  Raybarrow  Pool,  Fords  on 
the  Taw,  Crovenor  Steps.     From  C.,  n  m.  ;  M.,  15^  m.     To  Stickle- 
path, from  C.,  7|  m.  ;  M.,  12^  m.     To  Belstone,  from  C.,  9  m.  ;  M., 
13^  m.     Reverse,  R.  24  A. 

(B)  Road  to  Berry  Down,   White  Moor  Stone,  Small  Brook  Foot, 
Crovenor  Steps.     Distance  about  the  same.     Reverse,  R.  24  B. 

[Objects:  Exs.  19,  18,  17,  16.] 


ROUTE  38.  CHAGFORD  AND  MORETON  TO  OKEHAMPTON.  55 

(A)  The  rambler  will  first  make  his  way  to  Gidleigh  via  Murching- 
ton.     (See  C hag ford  to  Gidleigh).     Thence  he  will  turn  up  the  hill  by 
the  little  manor  pound  to  the  footpath  R.,  which  is  close  by,  and  follow 
W.N.W.  to  Thule.     On  reaching  the  lane  here  turn  R.  to  Moortown, 
soon  after  passing  which  the  commons  will  be  reached.     The  rambler 
continues  to  follow  the  road  which  skirts  them,  having  Buttern  House 
L.  and  Great  and  Little  Ensworthy  Farms  R.     Porder  Bridge  is  then 
crossed,  and  from  this  Shilstone  Tor  is  distant  £  m. 

(The  rambler  bound  for  Sticklepath  will  continue  to  follow  the 
road,  reaching  Payne's  Bridge  in  i  m.,  whence  the  route  is  described 
in  S.  Ex.  45). 

Prom  Shilstone  Tor  the  route  to  Okehampton  by  way  of  the 
Blackaton  Brook  and  the  north  end  of  Raybarrow  Pool  takes  a  course 
a  little  N.  of  W.,  the  stream  named  being  crossed  at,  or  near,  the  ford 
where  the  Gallaven  track  passes  over  it  (T.  42).  This  point  is  about 
£•  m.  from  Shilstone  Tor  (Ex.  18,  Part  II).  Thence  the  line,  still  N.  of 
W.,  runs  across  the  common  to  the  northern  end  of  Raybarrow  Pool, 
and  crossing  the  Peat  Road  (T.  41)  goes  W.N.W.  over  White  Hill  to 
the  fords  on  the  Taw.  This  part  of  the  route  is  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  47. 

(On  crossing  the  Taw  the  path  to  Belstone  through  Birchy  Lake, 
15-  m.,  runs  R). 

For  Okehampton  ascend  the  hill  W.  at  the  fords,  to  Winter  Tor. 
\  m.,  where  the  track  leading  down  to  Crovenor  Steps  (T.  37,  Ex.  16) 
will  be  struck.  From  this  point  the  route  is  given  in  Ex.  16. 

(B)  This  route  is  the  same  as  the  preceding  one  as  far  as  the  turning 
to  Gidleigh  village.     Here  the  rambler  will  keep  straight  up  the  hill 
to  Berry  Down  Farm,  and  thence  to  the  head  of  the  stroll  (Ex.  19). 
His  course  is  now  N.W.  by  W.  across  Buttern  Down,  by  the  head  of 
White  Moor  Bottom,  and  over  the  side  of  Kennon  Hill  to  White  Moor 
Stone  (Ex.  17),  2  m.  from  the  stroll.     From  this  point  he  will  follow 
the  instructions  given  in   the  route  from  Throwleigh,   S.   Ex.   47. 
Vide  also  Ex.  '17. 


[In  our  Excursions  from  Chagford  mention  has  frequently  been 
made  of  Waye  Barton,  on  the  road  to  Teigncombe.  Here  an  old  granite 
cross  was  formerly  to  be  seen,  lying  at  the  back  of  the  farm  buildings. 
[Crosses,  Chap.  XIII.]  I  have  recently  been  informed  that  it  is  no 
longer  to  be  found  there.] 


On  that  part  of  R.  33  which  describes  the  way  from  Heng  Lake  to 
Ivybridge  are  the  clay  works  at  Red  Lake,  noticed  in  R.  7,  Part  I.,  and 
Ex.  30,  Part  IV.  The  line  of  light  railway  by  which  the  clay  is  con- 
veyed to  the  side  of  the  \Vestern  Beacon  now  forms  a  direct  road  to 
the  verge  of  the  common  above  Ivybridge. 

In  R.  33  the  way  is  sketched  from  Hexworthy  to  Brent.  When 
the  Avon  is  crossed,  either  some  way  below  or  just  above,  the  canyon 
near  Small  Brook,  it  should  be  followed  downward  past  Brent  Moor 
House.  Quite  recently  the  right  of  way  here  to  any  but  commoners, 
has  been  questioned,  notwithstanding  that  such  right  has  been  exercised 
by  the  public  for  a  very  long  period.  If  the  river  cannot  be  crossed 
strike  up  the  hill  S.S.E.  from  Small  Brook  to  Shipley  Tor,  and  the 
hunting-gate,  as  shown  in  Ex.  29. 


*6  CRANMERE    POOL. 


ROUTES  TO   CRANMERE. 

Cranmere  pool  is  situated  on  the  northern  slope  of  a  ridge  which 
rises  between  the  springs  of  the  Dart  and  the  West  Ockment.  It  has 
sometimes  been  spoken  of  as  the  source  of  the  last-named  stream,  and 
in  the  days  when  it  was  truly  a  tarn  its  overflow  of  water  certainly 
contributed  to  swell  the  volume  of  the  infant  brook.  But  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years  Cranmere  has  been  a  pool  only  in  name,  and  the 
Ockment  receives  no  water  from  it  now.  The  true  source  of  this  is  a 
boggy  hollow  several  yards  from  the  northern  bank. 

Cranmere  is  first  mentioned  in  the  Itinerary  of  William  of  Wor- 
cester, which  was  written  about  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century.  On 
Bonn's  map  of  Devon,  1765,  it  is  marked  as  "  Craw-mere-pool,  vulgo 
Cran- mere-pool."  Polwhele,  in  his  Historical  Views  of  Devon,  1793, 
also  mentions  it ;  and  an  account  has  been  handed  down  to  us  of  a 
visit  to  it  in  1802  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Bray,  afterwards  Vicar  of  Tavistock, 
when  he  found  the  pool  dry.  The  name  has  been  supposed  by  some 
to  mean  the  lake  of  cranes,  or  herons.  This  may  be  so,  but  it  is  more 
probable  that  in  the  first  syllable  we  have  the  Celtic  an,  or  aim,  water, 
and  that  it  has  no  reference  to  the  bird  in  question.  (Cf.  Crane  Hill, 
Ex.  30).  According  to  tradition  the  pool  is  haunted  by  the  spirit  of 
a  former  Mayor  of  Okehampton,  who,  the  stories  say,  has  sometimes 
appeared  as  an  ugly  dwarf — usually  referred  to  as  Binjie  Gear 
(Benjamin  Gayer) — and  at  others  as  a  black  colt.  [Gems, 

Chap.  III.] 

In  1854  a  little  cairn  was  built  in  the  pool  by  the  late  Mr.  James 
Perrott,  of  Chagford,  so  long  known  as  the  Dartmoor  guide.  In  it  he 
placed  a  bottle  for  the  reception  of  visitors'  cards.  Fifty-one  years 
later,  that  is.  in  April,  1905,  Mr.  H.  P.  Hearder  and  Mr.  H.  Scott 
Tucker,  both  enthusiastic  moorland  ramblers,  placed  a  visitors'  book 
there.  The  number  of  signatures  to  the  end  of  the  year  was  609.  A 
record  has  been  kept,  and  these  are  found  to  be  increasing.  In  some 
years  the  number  of  names  entered  in  the  book  has  amounted  to  nearly 
three  times  as  many  as  in  the  first  year.  The  visitor  will  naturally 
choose  the  summer  for  his  ramble  to  the  pool ;  but  it  is  not  altogether 
neglected  even  in  winter,  as  the  records  show.  It  is  rather  amusing  to 
remember  the  notions  that  were  once  formed  regarding  it.  Up  to  a 
comparatively  short  time  ago  it  was  the  fashion  to  speak  of  the  Pool 
as  though  it  were  placed  in  some  almost  inaccessible  spot,  and  its 
discovery  very  doubtful.  But  there  never  was  any  difficulty  greater 
than  that  of  not  knowing  the  way  to  it  with  nobody  to  direct  you. 
The  moormen  did  not  know  much  about  it,  and  for  the  reason  that  the 
ground  surrounding  it  being  of  a  character  not  likely  to  prove  enticing 
to  the  animals  in  their  charge,  they  had  little  occasion  to  go  there. 
But  I  knew  one  with  whom  the  case  was  different.  He  had  a  number 
of  sheep  in  his  charge  that  were  pastured  near  Kneeset,  and  for  some 
time  it  was  his  custom  to  pass  Cranmere  every  day  on  his  visits  to  them. 


5*     C.R.  12.     CHAGFORD    AND    GIDLEIGH    TO   CRANMERE. 

C.  R.  12.— From  CHAGFORD,  j\  m. ;  GIDLEIGH,  s|  m., 
via  Walla  Brook  Bridge.  The  way  lies  first  to  Batworthy  Corner,  as 
in  Ex.  20,  and  thence  down  by  the  wall  to  Teign  Clapper.  Cross  the 
Teign.  and  then  cross  the  Walla  Brook  by  the  single  stone  clapper. 
Gidleigh  visitors  will  reach  this  point  by  way  of  the  Berry  Down  Stroll. 
From  the  confluence  of  these  two  streams  Cranmere  is  34  m.  distant 
W.  by  S.,  Watern  Tor,  which  is  seen  rising  on  the  ridge,  being  about 


FROM  NEAR   SUMMIT   OF   NEWT  ARE. 

midway  between  the  two.  This  is  a  little  N.  of  a  direct  line  to  the 
pool,  but  as  it  will  probably  be  desired  to  include.it  in  the  ramble  we 
make  it  the  next  point.  Should  the  ground  be  swampy,  as  it  sometimes 
is  on  this  level,  it  will  be  well  to  keep  rather  near  to  the  W&lla  Brook. 
From  Watern  Tor  (Ex.  19)  the  way  lies  across  Walla  Brook  Combe  to 
Newtake,  not  quite  i  m.  W.S.W.  This  is  a  rounded  eminence,  and  is 
sometimes  known  as  Hangingstone  Hill,  as  mentioned  in  Ex.  19,  where 
the  view  from  it  is  described.  Four  miles  from  it,  a  little  N.  of  W., 
is  Great  Links  Tor  (Ex.  13),  and  by  taking  this  for  a  guide  the  visitor 


Great    Great  Links 
Kneeset.        Tor. 


Amicombe  Hill. 


FPOM   NEWTAKE,    J   M.   S.   OF  SUMMIT. 


C.R.  13.      CHAGFORD   TO  CRANMERE. 


59 


will  be  led  to  the  pool,  which  is  I  m.  distant.  To  do  this  he  passes 
over  a  stretch  of  fen,  and  if  this  should  be  in  a  bad  state  it  will  be  well 
to  keep  a  little  to  the  R.  of  the  distant  tor.  By  so  doing  Taw  Head 
will  be  struck,  from  which  point  the  way  is  shown  in  C.  R.  10.  But 
at  all  events  he  must  not  keep  L.  or  he  will  miss  Cranmere.  Taw  Head  is 
W.  of  Newtake,  and  about  midway  between  it  and  the  pool.  East 
Dart  Head  is  |  m.  S.W.,  or  \  m.  vS.  of  Taw  Head. 

A  more  direct  route  from  Chagford  is  by  way  of  Hew  Down  (Ex.  19). 
From  Batworthy  Corner  a  little  S.  of  W.  to  the  Teign  ;  cross  the  river 
and  climb  the  ridge,  passing  about  \  m.  S.  of  Watern  Tor  ;  thence,  still 
S.  of  W.,  by  Walla  Brook  Head  to  the  S.  side  of  Newtake,  and  straight 
to  the  pool.  The  former  route,  is  however,  the  more  convenient  one. 

In  returning  strike  E.  by  N.  to  Newtake,  and  then  follow  a  N.E- 
course  for  a  short  distance  gradually  turning  more  nearly  E.  towards 
Watern  Tor,  as  in  Ex.  19.  A  track  will  be  seen  leading  up  to  it.  On 
reaching  this  cross  the  stream  and  follow  it  downward  for  a  short 
distance,  and  then  strike  E.  to  Teign  Clapper.  To  Chagford  see  S. 
Ex.  51  ;  to  Gidleigh  Ex.  19. 

C.  R.  13.— From  CHAGFORD  via  Pernworthy,  8£  m.  Tawton 
Gate,  as  in  Ex.  21  ;  thence  by  the  road  to  Fernworthy,  and  up  the  lane 
by  the  farmhouse  as  in  Ex.  20  ;  from  the  gate  at  the  head  of  the  lane 
follow  the  green  track  (T.  45)  to  Teign  Head  Farm.  A  carriage  can  be 
driven  to  this  solitary  dwelling,  from  which  Cranmere  is  2^  m.  distant 
W.N.W.  The  hill  facing  the  bridge  may  be  ascended  by  the  pedestrian, 
leaving  the  farm  L.  The  course  given  must  be  followed  to  White 
Horse  Gate,  f  m.,  from  Teign  Head  Bridge.  Here  the  farm  enclosures 
are  left  behind,  and  the  way  lies  W.N.W.  over  White  Horse  Hill. 
On  the  L.  is  the  source  of  the  Varracombe  Brook.  Half-a-mile  on  is 
Moute's  Inn,  the  scanty  remains  of  a  peat-cutter's  hut.  From  this  W. 
by  N.  for  -?,  m.  to  East  Dart  Head.  Cranmere  is  now  \  m.  distant  N.W  , 
or  N.W.  by  W.  from  the  upper  spring  in  the  small  hollow,  R.  in  ascending. 
(See  C.R.  la).  When  High  WUles  comes  into  view  it  must  be  taken  as 
a  landmark,  and  the  Pool  will  soon  be  reached. 


Great  Links 
Tor. 


N.W. 


FROM  NEAR  E.   DART  HEAD. 


6o 


C.R.  14.    Moreton  and  North  Bovey  to  Cranmere. 


East  Dart  Head  will  be  the  first  point  in  returning,  £  m.  S.E.  of 
the  pool.  Keep  it  R.  and  strike  E.  by  S.  past  Moute's  Inn  to  the  wall 
of  the  Teign  Head  enclosures.  This  will  bring  the  rambler  to  White 
Horse  Gate  ;  it  is  better  to  bear  a  little  L.  of  the  line  on  leaving  Dart 
Head,  and  on  reaching  the  wall  follow  it  S.,  so  that  the  gate  may  not 
be  missed.  E.S.E.  across  the  enclosure  to  Teign  Head  Farm.  Thence 
by  the  track  to  Pernworthy  and  on  by  the  road  to  Tawton  Gate,  near 
Yardworthy.  To  Chagford  as  in  S.  Ex.  56. 

C.  R.  14.— From  MORETON  and  NORTH  BOVEY,  ii£  m.  By 
road  to  Tawton  Gate  and  Fern  worthy.  Thence  as  in  C.  R.  13. 
From  Moreton  the  road  runs  by  way  of  Thorn  and  Stiniel.  See  Moreton 
to  Metheral. 

From  the  southern  part  of  the  moor  the  starting-points  of  the 
Cranmere  routes  are  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges,  C.  R.  i,  2  ;  from 
the  south-eastern  part,  Post  Bridge,  C.  R.  16,  17  ;  and  the  Warren 
House  Inn,  C.  R.  15.  These  are  given  in  Part  I.  One  route  from 
Princetown  via  Cut  Hill,  8£  m.,  or  /£  m.  from  Two  Bridges  (C.  R.  ic), 
is  more  fully  given,  with  the  return,  in  Ex.  1 1 ,  Part  II. 

The  route  from  Cranmere  to  Princetown  and  Two  Bridges  is  here 
shown  in  case  the  rambler  should  desire  to  cross  the  moor  to  either  of 
those  places  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Chagford  by  way  of  the  Pool. 
To  East  Dart  Head,  as  in  C.  R.  13  ;  thence  down  that  river  to  the 
bend,  2  m.  ;  then  strike  due  S.  to  the  West  Dart,  li  M.,  which  follow 
downward  to  Two  Bridges. 


Black 

Ridge. 


Okement    Cranmere 
Hill.  x 


Hangingstone 
Steeperton.    Hill. 


FROM   CUT  HILL.      LOOKING  N. 


ROAD   DISTANCES   TO   BOVEY   TRACEY.  61 


LUSTLEIGH  AND   BOVEY  TRACEY 
DISTRICT. 

DISTANCES  (to  Bovey).  BY  ROAD:  ASHBURTON,  j\  m.. 
BARRAMOOR  BRIDGE,  via  Manaton,  8  m.  BECKY  FALL,  4  m. 
BEETOR  CROSS,  via  Manaton,  8f  m.  BICKINGTON,  3  m.  BUCK- 
FA  STLEIGH,  via  Ashburton,  1 0^-  m.  B  UCKLA  ND-IN-THE-MOOR, 
via  Hemsworthy  Gate,  g\  m.  ;  via  Ashburton,  n^m.  CHAGFORD, 
via  Moreton,  n  m.  CHRISTOW,  via  Hennock  and  Canonteign,  5  m. 
CHUDLEIGH,  4  m.  CLIFFORD  BRIDGE,  via  Dunsford,  or  via 
Moreton,  10  m.  COLD  EAST  CROSS,  6£  m.  DART  MEET,  via 
Hemsworthy  Gate  and  Widecombe,  \2\  m.  DUNSFORD,  via 
Christow,  8  m.  EXETER,  via  Chudleigh,  1 3  m.  FINGLE  BRIDGE, 
via  Moreton,  9f  m.  GRENDON  BRIDGE,  via  Widecombe,  lof  m. 
GRIM'S  POUND,  via  Widecombe  and  Hill  Head,  12+  m.  ;  via  Moor 
Gate,  i  if  m.  HALSHANGER  CROSS,  6  m.  HEMSWORTHY 
GATE,  5  m.  HENNOCK,  2  m.  HEXWORTHY,  via  Dartmeet, 
14  m.  HEY  TOR,  see  I^ud  Gate.  HEYTREE  CROSS,  j\  m, 
ILSINGTON,  via  Brimley,  3  m.  IVYBRIDGE,  via  Ashburton, 
20%  m.  LUD  GATE,  3  m.  LUSTLEIGH,  3^  m.  LYDFORD,  via 
Moreton  and  Sandy  Park,  29  m.  MANATON,  5  m.  MOOR  GATE, 
via  Manaton,  9f  m.  MORETON,  6%  m.  NEWTON  ABBOT,  $1-  m. 
NORTH  BO VEY,  via  Manaton  or  Sanduck,  7^  m.  OKEHAMPTON, 
via  Moreton  and  Sandy  Park,  20  m.  PLYMOUTH,  via  Ashburton 
and  Ivybridge,  31  m.  PLYMPTON,  do.,  27  m.  POST  BRIDGE 
(the  Dart),  via  Grendon  Bridge,  13!-  m.  PRINCETOWN,  via  Dart- 
meet,  19  m.  SANDUCK,  5^  m.  SOUTH  BRENT,  via  Ashburton, 
15!  m.  SWINE  DOWN  GATE,  via  Owlacombe  Barrow  and 
Leighon,  6  m.  TA  VISTOCK,  via  Two  Bridges  and  Rundle  Stone, 
25!  m.  TWO  BRIDGES,  via  Dartmeet,  17$  m.  WARREN  HOUSE 
INN,  via  Moor  Gate,  12  m.  WELSTOR  CROSS,  7%  m.  WIDE- 
COMBE, via  Hemsworthy  Gate,  6|  m.  YELVERTON,  via  Prince- 
town,  25  m. 

BY  RAII,:  (G.W.R.)  To  MORETON,  6£  m.  To  NEWTON 
ABBOT,  6  m.  From  Newton  Abbot  to  Ashburton,  18  m.  ;  Brent, 
15-^  m.  ;  Buckfastleigh,  15^  m.  ;  Cornwood,  23^-  m.  ;  Exeter,  20^  m.  ; 
Ivybridge,  21  m.  ;  Plymouth,  32^  m.  ;  Plympton,  2j\  m.  ;  Torquay, 
5f  m.  ;  Totnes,  8|  m. 

Bovey  Tracey  may  also  be  reached  from  Exeter  by  the  Teign 
Valley  Railway,  which  runs  via  Christow,  Ashton,  and  Chudleigh  to 
Heathfield,  which  latter  is  quite  near.  This  railway  is  of  service  to 
the  tourist  who  wishes  to  explore  the  country  round  Christow  and 
Bridford. 


62  LUSTLEIGH    AND    BOVEY   TRACEY    DISTRICT. 


Important  Points  and  Landmarks. 

Important  Points.  Hemsworthy  Gate — Hey  Tor — Rippon  Tor — 
Swine  Down  Gate,  or  Swallaton  Gate — Widecombe.  Other  Places  of 
Interest.  Becky  Falls — Bottor — Bowerman's  Nose — Hound  Tor — 
Lustleigh  Cleave — Manaton.  Prehistoric  Antiquities.  Black  Hill: 
tumuli — Holwell  Tor  :  hut  circles — Torhill :  hut  circles  and  reaves — 
Tunhill :  kistvaen. 

Bovey  Tracey  takes  its  name  from  the  river  on  which  it  is  situated, 
and  the  family  which  formerly  possessed  it.  The  Bovey  was  once  also 
known  as  the  West  Teign.  Though  not  a  suitable  base  from  which  to 
explore  the  wilder  parts  of  Dartmoor,  it  is  well  placed  with  regard  to 
that  corner  of  it  comprising  Ilsington  Common,  part  of  Manaton 
Common  lands,  and  Lustleigh,  while  the  Widecombe  valley  can  also 
"be  conveniently  reached  from  it. 

The  manor  of  Bovey  formed  one  of  the  possessions  of  the  Barony 
of  Barnstaple,  which  was  bestowed  in  the  Conqueror's  reign  upon  the 
Bishop  of  Coutances.  The  Barony  was  afterwards  given  to  Judhael, 
and  subsequently  passed  to  the  Traceys,  who  seem  to  have  contributed 
in  no  small  degree  to  the  welfare  of  the  place.  Henry  de  Tracey  is 
said  to  have  obtained  in  1259  a  charter  for  a  market  and  fair,  to  be 
held  there,  though  Risdon  states  that  a  market  was  purchased  by  Eva 
de  Tracey  twenty-seven  years  before  that  date.  These  were  stiU  held 
when  Risdon  wrote,  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
fairs  taking  place  on  Ascension  Day  and  St.  Thomas's  Day. 

Bovey  did  not  remain  undisturbed  during  the  Civil  War  period. 
Lord  Wentworth's  brigade  was  surprised  there  by  the  Parliamentarians 
on  the  pth  January,  1646,  and  the  old  story,  found  in  many  other 
places,  of  the  Royalist  officers  being  engaged  at  cards  and  throwing 
their  stakes  among  the  people  in  the  hope  that  during  the  scramble 
for  the  money  they  would  be  able  to  escape  from  their  enemies,  is 
related  in  connection  with  the  fight.  This  is  a  myth  ;  the  only  thing 
•we  can  be  sure  of  is  that  the  Royalist  troops  were  utterly  defeated. 
The  Parliamentarians  were  under  the  command  of  Cromwell  himself, 
then  Lieutenant-General.  One  account  states  that  besides  a  number 
of  officers,  one  hundred  soldiers  were  taken  prisoners,  and  that  four 
hundred  horses,  one  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle,  and  three  hundred 
stands  of  arms,  were  secured  by  the  victors. 

Before  starting  on  our  excursions  from  Bovey  it  will  be  well  to 
describe  the  great  hill  of  Hamel  Down  (or  Hameldon,  as  it  is  more  often 
called),  together  with  the  valley  of  Widecombe,  in  case  the  visitor 
should  desire  to  extend  his  rambles  that  far.  These  are  also  con- 
veniently reached  from  Ashburton  or  Post  Bridge,  and  the  routes  from 
those  places  are  given  in  the  description  of  that  part  of  the  moor 
in  their  vicinity.  The  way  to  the  northern  end  of  Hameldon  from 
Chagford  and  Moreton  has  already  been  shown  (R.  33,  S.  Ex.  59,  60). 


HAMELDON.  63 


Hameldon  and  the  Widecombe  Valley. 

Hameldon  occupies  the  central  portion  of  the  lofty  ridge  extending 
from  Shapley  Common  on  the  north  to  Bittleford  Down  on  the  south, 
a  distance  of  5  m.  This  central  portion  is  about  2\  m.  in  length,  and, 
at  its  widest,  i4-  m.  in  width,  the  ridge  here  rising  between  the  valleys 
of  the  East  and  West  Webburn.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
combe  in  which  Grim's  Pound  is  situated  (Ex.  22),  and  may  be  said 
to  terminate  in  the  opposite  direction  near  the  Church  Way,  which 
crosses  the  down  from  Blackaton  to  Widecombe  (T.  76).  Overlooking 
the  combe,  as  already  stated  (Ex.  22),  is  Hameldon  Tor,  1,737  leet  m 
height,  and  this  elevation  is  nearly  maintained  by  the  ridge  for  a 
distance  of  i£  m.,  when,  at  Hameldon  Beacon  (surface  level,  1,695  '• 
bench  mark,  1,697)  tne  ground  begins  to  drop  towards  the  S.  The 
rambler  who  takes  the  trouble  to  scale  this  huge  rounded  ridge  will 
find  himself  wtll  rewarded,  for  though  he  may  not,  as  the  moormen 
say,  be  able  to  see  the  whole  of  Devon  from  it,  it  is  certain  that  he  will 
look  over  a  good  deal  of  the  county.  Though  the  western  foot  of 
Hameldon  is  some  mile  and  a  half  outside  the  forest,  the  greater  part 
of  the  ancient  hunting-ground  is  nevertheless  visible,  as  well  as  much 
of  the  belt  of  common  land  encircling  it.  In  fact,  there  are  few 
prominent  heights  in  the  moorland  region  that  cannot  be  seen  from  this 
hill,  while  from  whatever  point  it  is  itself  viewed  it  forms  a  conspicuous 
feature  in  the  scene. 

About  £  m.  S.S.E.  of  Hameldon  Tor  is  Hameldon  Cross,  and 
between  these  a  reave  runs  from  a  small  bog  on  the  western  slope  of 
the  hill  (from  which  a  rivulet  dribbles  into  the  Webburn)  across  to 
another  little  stream  on  its  eastern  side.  This  reave  was  said  by  the 
Rev.  J.  P.  Jones,  to  whom  we  have  referred  as  the  author  of  a  little 
book  on  the  scenery  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Moreton,  published  in 
1823,  to  have  been  traced  to  Waydon  Tor  (by  which  is  meant  White 
Tor,  called  on  the  moor  Whitten  Tor),  and  this  can  still  be  done, 
although  there  are  several  breaks  in  it.  It  is  briefly  noticed  in  Ex.  46^ 
which  describes  that  part  of  the  moor  in  which  White  Tor  is  situated. 
The  stream  on  the  eastern  side  ef  the  hill  forms  the  boundary  between 
the  common  lands  of  Manaton  and  Widecombe,  and  this  is  drawn 
from  its  head  to  Hameldon  Cross,  the  space  between  the  two  being 
marked  by  a  couple  of  bondstones,  the  lower  one  being  called  Blue  Jug 
and  the  other  the  Grey  Wethers  Stone.*  This  line  also  forms  the 

*  Among  other  bondstones  on  this  ridge  may  be  mentioned 
Hameldon  Old  House  and  Aaron's  Knock.  Another  mark  is  named 
Two  Crosses,  and  these  were  formerly  cut  on  the  turf.  The  late 
Mr.  Robert  Dymond,  owner  of  Dunstone  Manor,  intended  to  erect  a 
mark  at  this  point,  but  was  undecided  whether  it  should  take  the 
form  of  a  cross  with  two  pairs  of  arms,  or  two  separate  crosses.  We 
had  some  correspondence  on  the  subject,  but  unfortunately  his  death 
put  an  end  to  the  project. 


64  HAMELDON. 

northern  boundary  of  Natsworthy  Manor,  one  of  the  six  in  the  parish 
of  Widecombe,  and  which  in  the  sixteenth  century,  appears  amongfthe 
vills  bordering  the  east  quarter  of  the  forest  as  North  Werthiehed,  and 
also  as  North  Worthied.  On  the  Widecombe  side  of  the  little  stream, 
which  runs  through  a  hollow,  is  the  enclosure  known  as  Berry  Pound, 
to  which  reference  has  been  made  in  our  Chagford  excursions 
(S.  Ex.  60).  The  area  covered  is  very  much  smaller  than  that  occupied 
by  Grirn's  Pound,  and  the  vallum  is  low  and  not  of  great  width.  It  is 
about  •}-  m.  W.N.W.  of  Higher  Natsworthy. 

Hameldon  Cross  consists  of  a  granite  slab  rather  over  four  feet 
in  height  and  about  two  feet  in  width,  rudely  fashioned  into  the  form 
of  the  sacred  symbol,  and  probably  has  never  served  any  other  purpose 
than  that  of  a  boundary  stone.  Like  other  manorial  bondmarks  on 
this  hill  it  bears  its  name  (or  rather,  in  this  instance,  the  initials  of  its 
name)  and  the  letters  D.S.,  which  stand  for  Duke  of  Somerset,  the 
former  owner  of  Natsworthy,  and  the  date  1854,  in  which  year  the 
marks  were  set  up  or  renewed.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XVI.]  Less  than  \  m. 
S.E.  of  the  cross  is  Broad  Barrow,  to  which  the  boundary  line  runs,  and 
is  thence  continued  due  S.  to  Single  Barrow,  which  is  not  far  off.  This 
tumulus  was  opened  in  1873  by  the  late  Mr.  C.  Spence  Bate,  and  was 
found  to  consist  of  earth  with  the  exception  of  a  low  hedge  of  stones 
which  encircled  it,  and  a  low  cairn  in  the  centre.  About  six  feet  from 
the  latter  a  small  heap  of  burnt  human  bones  was  discovered,  together 
with  some  fragments  of  charcoal,  and  a  flint  flake.  From  Single 
Barrow  the  boundary  runs  a  little  E.  of  S.  to  Two  Barrows,  which  are 
close  to  the  corner  of  the  wall  surrounding  Blackaton  Down.  This 
wall  is  carried  down  the  hill  westward  to  the  Webburn,  more  than  500 
feet  below,  and  here  forms  a  boundary  of  Manaton  parish,  Blackaton 
Down,  as  well  as  Hameldon,  being  in  Widecombe.  One  of  these 
barrows  was  also  opened  by  Mr.  Spence  Bate,  in  the  year  preceding 
that  of  his  investigation  of  Single  Barrow.  He  found  it  to  be  formed 
like  the  other,  and  it  also  yielded  burnt  human  bones  and  charcoal. 
But  the  chief  object  of  interest  was  the  bronze  blade  of  a  dagger,  and 
the  amber  pommel  of  the  same,  inlaid  with  small  pins  of  gold.  This 
is  now  in  the  Museum  of  the  Plymouth  Institution.  The  boundary 
between  the  manors  of  Natsworthy  and  Blackaton  is  now  marked  by 
the  wall  which  runs  S.E.  by  S.  for  \  m.  to  the  large  tumulus  known  as 
Hameldon  Beacon,  over  which  it  is  carried,  f 

The  view  from  this  elevated  spot  is  exceedingly  fine.  Many  of 
the  hills  with  which  our  wanderings  have  made  us  familiar  are  in  sight, 
as  well  as  a  number  of  others  yet  to  be  visited.  North  Hisworthy,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  forest,  and  which  we  ascended  from  Princetown 
(Princetown  District)  is  plainly  seen  to  the  W.S.W.,  and  to  the  right 
of  it,  a  little  S.  of  W.,  the  granite  cap  of  Mis  Tor.  Cut  Hill  rises 
from  the  recesses  of  the  north  quarter  W.N.W. ,  and  from  this  the 
eye  ranges  over  a  great  extent  of  moorland  to  Cosdon,  the  summit  of 
which  bears  N.W.  by  N.  Nearly  due  S.  is  Brent  Hill,  and  to  the  right 
of  it,  S.  by  W.,  and  a  dozen  miles  away,  the  Eastern  Beacon,  which 
looks  far  out  over  the  South  Hams  from  its  frontier  station  on 
Ugborough  Moor  (Ex.  32).  Eastward,  on  the  further  side  of  the 

f  A  stone  chair  preserved  in  a  garden  near  Crediton  is  said  to  have 
been  brought  there  from  Hameldon  about  1840. 


WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR.  65 

Widecombe   Valley,    are  the   tors  of   Honeybag   and   Chinkwell,    and 
beyond  them  Hound  Tor,  Hey  Tor,  and  Rippon  Tor. 

The  wall  now  runs  south-westward  for  about  £  m.  to  the  head  of 
a  little  stream  that  falls  into  the  Broadford  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the 
West  Webburn,  but  the  limit  of  Natsworthy  Manor  is  marked  by 
bondstones,  the  line  extending  from. the  beacon  E.S.E.  for  £  m.  to  Bag 
Park  Plantation.  About  i  m.  S.  of  these  stones  the  Church  Way 
crosses  the  down,  running  S.E.  from  the  head  of  Gore  Hill  to  the  top  of 
Church  Lane,  which  leads  down  to  Widecombe  Green.  Southward  of 
this  is  Dunstone  Down,  and  still  further  south,  Bittleford  Down,  where 
the  ridge  terminates. 

The  fine  group  of  rocks  known  as  Honeybag  Tor  is  the  northern- 
most of  a  range  extending  for  about  2^  m.  S.  by  E.,  others  being  the 
equally  striking  Chinkwell  Tor  and  Bonehill  Rocks,  with  many  minor 
piles  hereafter  mentioned.  The  high  land  from  which  these  rise  forms 
the  E.  side  of  the  deep  Widecombe  valley,  the  head  of  which  is  a  little 
to  the  N.  of  Honeybag,  where  the  branches  of  the  East  Webburn 
meet.  This  stream,  which  was  anciently  called  the  Niprell,  runs 
through  it,  as  also  does  a  road,  the  latter  coming  down  from  Heytree 
Cross  (R.  32).  The  valley  is  here  very  narrow,  and  the  scenery  of  a 
romantic  character.  A  short  distance  below  the  confluence  of  the 
Webburn  branches  is  the  entrance  to  Bag  Park,  and  below  this  Wide- 
combe Manor  House,  not  far  from  which  the  road  crosses  the  stream 
and  runs  near  its  right  bank.  Below  Bonehill  Rocks,  and  about  i£  m. 
from  its  head,  the  sides  of  the  valley  fall  back,  and  here,  about  its 
centre,  and  on  slightly  rising  ground,  is  the  village  which  for  many 
centuries  has  been  closely  connected  with  the  forest,  and  which  is 
known  as  Widecombe-in-the-Moor. 

In  our  notice  of  the  Lich  Path  (T.  18),  we  have  spoken  of  the 
application  made  to  Bishop  Bronescombe  in  1260  by  the  dwellers  in 
the  ancient  tenements  of  Babeny  and  Pizwell  within  the  forest  to  be 
allowed  to  pay  their  tithes  to  the  parson  of  Widecombe,  that  being  the 
church  to  which  they  mostly  resorted,  in  consequence  of  their  own 
parish  church  of  Lydford  being  at  a  great  distance  from  them.  And  until 
the  mission  chapels  at  Huccaby  and  Post  Bridge  were  built,  in  1868-9, 
the  forest  men  of  the  Wallabrook  Valley  attended  Widecombe  Church. 
They  were,  however,  compelled  to  go  to  Lydford  occasionally,  for  it 
was  there  that  the  Forest  Courts  were  held,  but  beyond  this  it  is 
probable  that  they  felt  less  interest  in  that  place  than  in  Widecombe. 
At  the  present  day  it  is  likely  that  even  this  is  diminished,  though 
they  are  periodically  reminded  by  the  visits  of  the  rate-collector  that 
such  a  place  exists. 

Besides  Natsworthy,  which  four  hundred  years  ago  was  set  down 
in  a  forester's  account  as  a  hamlet,  there  were  five  vills  in  Widecombe 
parish,  namely,  Sherwell  and  Grendon,  the  two  Cators,  or,  as  the 
forester  gives  it,  the  "  hamelett  de  North  Catrowe  "  and  the  "  villat 
de  Higher  Catrowe,"  and  another  the  name  of  which  does  not  appear 
in  the  account. 

No  inhabited  district  in  the  whole  of  the  moorland  region  has  better 
preserved  its  primitive  aspect  than  the  Widecombe  Valley  and  the  hill 
country  about  it,  and  the  visitor  who  desires  to  look  into  an  old- 
fashioned  land,  free  from  what  are  erroneously  called  "  improve- 
ments," will  here  find  much  to  delight  him.  Open  moor,  rocky  heights, 

F3 


66  WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR. 

clear  streams,  and  shady  lanes,  invite  him  to  wander,  and  he  will  not 
go  far  without  stumbling  upon  something  to  remind  him  of  a  by-gone 
day.  On  the  commons  he  will  fiud  relics  of  the  stone  man  ;  on  their 
verge,  or  hidden  away  in  some  combe,  that  interesting  feature  of  the 
Dartmoor  border  parishes,  the  substantially  built  farmhouses  of  a  couple 
of  centuries  or  more  ago  ;  in  the  hamlets  the  upping-stock,  reminis- 
cent of  the  time  when  the  pillion  was  in  vogue  ;  the  broken  crosses 
that  tell  of  Time's  ravages,  or  the  vandal's  hand  ;  walls  of  grey  granite 
straggling  along  steep  hillsides  and  enclosing  crofts  in  which  boulders 
are  hardly  less  apparent  than  pasturage  ;  rude  bridges  and  solitary 
cots  ;  the  tiny  manor  pound  ;  and  much  else  that  is  "  quaint  and 
curious." 

Widecombe  Church,  which  has  been  sometimes  called  the  Cathe- 
dral of  the  Moor,  is  a  large  building  in  the  Perpendicular  style,  and 
possesses  a  handsome  tower,  over  a  hundred  feet  in  height.  At  the 
corners  of  this  are  double  buttresses,  diminishing  in  size  as  they  ascend 
the  stages,  of  which  there  are  three.  The  top  is  battlemented  and 
ornamented  with  four  crocketted  pinnacles,  each  surmounted  with  a 
cross.  According  to  tradition  the  church  was  built  by  tinners,  who, 
having  been  particularly  successful  in  their  ventures  in  the  locality, 
adopted  this  course  of  showing  their  thankfulness  for  their  good  for- 
tune, and  the  presence  of  the  alchemical  symbol  of  three  rabbits  on 
one  of  the  bosses  of  the  roof  (which  also  appears  at  Chagford  and  in 
other  moorland  churches)  has  been  thought  to  support  this.  It  is,  of 
course,  quite  possible  that  those  who  came  into  the  Webburn  valleys 
to  seek  tin  should  have  re-built,  or  assisted  to  re-build,  the  church, 
which  was  not  only  attended  by  the  parishioners  of  Widecombe,  but 
also  by  those  who  dwelt  in  the  south-east  corner,  of  the  forest,  where 
many  of  the  Streamworks  were,  and  although  it  is  unwise  to  place  too 
much  credence  in  tradition,  it  is  sometimes  found  to  have  a  foundation 
in  fact.  The  size  of  the  church  is  readily  to  be  accounted  for  when  it  is 
remembered  what  district  it  was  intended  to  serve,  but  the  beauty  of 
the  tower,  which  far  surpasses  that  of  any  other  in  the  moorland 
district,  certainly  points  to  its  having  been  erected  in  circumstances 
other  than  the  ordinary,  and  thus  we  may  not  unreasonably  suppose 
the  story  to  be  true.  It  is  also  not  improbable  that  the  forest  men 
joined  with  the  tinners  in  furthering  the  work.  On  Sunday,  the  2ist 
October,  1638,  Widecombe  Church  was  the  scene  of  an  occurrence  of  a 
kind  which,  though  not  unknown  in  other  border  villages,  is  happily 
one  that  is  rare.  While  the  service  was  proceeding  the  vicar,  the 
Rev.  George  Lyde,  being  in  the  pulpit,  a  sudden  darkness  fell,  and 
speedily  a  terrific  thunder-storm  broke  over  the  building,  doing  con- 
siderable damage.  Four  persons  were  killed,  and  sixty-two  injured, 
either  by  the  lightning  or  falling  masonry,  large  stones  being  hurled 
from  the  tower  into  the  body  of  the  church.  An  account  of  the  storm 
appeared  the  same  year,  two  tracts  on  the  subject  being  published  in 
London,  and  it  was  also  commemorated  in  some  lines  written  by 
Richard  Hill,  the  village  schoolmaster,  as  well  as  in  others  by  the 
Rev.  George  Lyde,  and  these  have  since  been  printed.  Hill's  lines 
were  painted  in  black  letter  on  boards  and  fixed  in  the  chancel,  but, 
presumably  having  become  decayed,  were  replaced  by  the  present 
ones,  which  bear  the  date  1786.  It  was  there  that  I  first  saw  these 
wooden  tablets,  but  when  the  church  was  restored  in  1874  they  were 


WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR.  67 

removed,  and  fixed  against  the  wall  in  the  basement  of  the  tower, 
where  they  may  now  be  seen.  Opposite  to  them  is  a  fragment  of  one 
of  the  old  black  letter  boards,  which  came  to  light  in  a  neighbouring 
cottage  a  few  years  ago.  At  the  foot  of  the  lines  are  the  names  of 
the  churchwardens  in  1786 — Peter  and  Sylvester  Mann.  This  name 
has  existed  in  the  locality  for  many  centuries,  and  it  is  still  found  there. 
In  the  Court  Rolls  of  the  loth  of  Henry  VI.,  1432-3,  Robert  Manna 
is  mentioned  as  having  taken  land  of  the  Lord  of  the  Forest ;  in  1 5  79- 
80,  Anthony  Man,  of  Wydecomb,  surrendered  the  moiety  of  a  tenement 
at  Babeny,  then  held  by  Leonard  Man  ;  and  hi  1702  Richard  Man  is 
named  as  one  of  the  forest  tenants  at  Dunnabridge. 

There  are  three  stone  crosses,  or  rather  the  remains  of  them,  at 
Widecombe.  Just  without  the  churchyard  gate  is  the  base  of  one, 
but  the  cross  itself  is  gone,  and  a  small  yew  is  now  growing  in  the  place 
it  occupied.  Very  near  to  the  south  porch  is  a  cross  standing  in  a 
socket  stone.  The  upper  part  of  this  one,  which  it  will  be  seen  has 
been  restored,  was  formerly  built  into  the  churchyard  wall.  The 
third  cross  stands  in  the  vicarage  garden,  where  it  was  placed  many 
years  ago,  but  its  original  site  was  on  the  green  at  Dunstone.  Vide 
post.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XVI.]  Another 'relic  of  an  older  day  is  the  well, 
over  which  is  raised  a  curious  little  edifice  of  granite.  Close  to  the 
churchyard  gate  is  a  row  of  ancient  ahnshouses,  and  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  the  Old  Inn.  Behind  the  former  is  the  green,  a  fine 
open  space,  whence  a  good  view  of  the  church  tower  is  obtained.  In 
the  churchyard  wall,  and  quite  close  to  a  gate  at  the  back  of  the  houses, 
is  a  small  circular  stone,  21  niches  in  diameter,  and  having  a  round 
hole  through  its  centre.  It  is  apparently  a  quern.  On  the  north  side 
of  the  green  formerly  stood  the  home  of  the  Fitz  Ralphs,  of  which  a 
description  has  been  left  us  in  some  verses  by  Richard  Hill,  the  author 
of  the  lines  commemorative  of  the  great  storm.  This  was  North  Hall, 
or  as  they  have  it  locally,  Narral,  but  the  sole  vestiges  of  it  are  some 
grass-covered  mounds.  In  Hill's  day,  however,  this  moorland  mansion 
was  still  standing,  though,  as  he  says,  it  was  then  much  decayed.  He 
describes  it  as  being  at  one  time  surrounded  with  "  moats  of  standing 
water,"  but  only  the  ruined  banks  were  then  to  be  seen. 

"  And  when  the  family  within  would  walk  into  the  town, 

Or  else  return,  a  draw-bridge  firm  they  presently  let  down  ; 

And  at  their  pleasure  drew  it  up  to  keep  the  household  safe. 

This  house  did  anciently  belong  to  Raph,  the  son  of  Raph." 
In  the  thirteenth  century  Robert  Courtenay  granted  certain 
privileges  to  the  burgesses  of  Okehampton  by  charter.  Among  the 
names  of  those  by  whom  this  was  attested  occurs  that  of  Ralph,  son  of 
Ralph,  who  was  probably  a  representative  of  this  Widecombe  family  ; 
as  also,  it  is  supposed,  was  Richard  Fitz-Ralph,  made  Archbishop  of 
Armagh  and  Primate  of  Ireland  by  Pope  Clement  VI.,  in  1347. 

The  parish  has  not  been  without  its  benefactors.  In  a  law  case  in 
1689,  at  which  time  Jonathan  Tickell  was  Vicar,  mention  was  made 
by  Thomas  Lyde,  one  of  the  deponents,  of  two  deeds  dated  i2th 
December,  1479,  as  being  then  in  the  church  chest  at  Widecombe.  By 
these  a  grant  of  the  Church  House  was  made  to  the  trustees  for  the 
benefit  of  the  parishioners.  About  the  year  1797  Miss  White  gave  the 
sum  of  ^142,  to  be  applied  to  the  education  of  poor  children  of 
the  parish.  The  interest  being  augmented  by  annual  subscriptions, 


68  WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR. 

four  schools  were  supported,  and  instruction  given  to  fifty  children. 
The  poor  had  also  133.  a  year,  which  was  left  by  Lewis  Wills  and 
Sampson  Jerinan. 

William  Stephens,  of  the  "  Leek  Seed  Chapel,"  was  born  in  this 
parish  in  1742.  He  left  Widecombe  in  early  life,  and  after  some 
adventurous  years  became  a  gardener,  and  ultimately  settled  near 
St.  Blazey,  in  Cornwall,  where  the  chapel,  which  his  labours  helped  so 
much  to  build,  is  situated.  He  died  in  1822. 

John  Gerrard,  the  author  of  a  book  of  poems  published  in  1769, 
was  for  some  tune  curate  of  Widecombe.  He  does  not,  however, 
appear  to  have  been  a  native  of  Devon. 

Jonas  Coaker,  the  Dartmoor  poet,  to  whom  we  have  referred  in 
Part  I.,  spent  the  earlier  years  of  his  life  in  Widecombe.  In  1876  he 
contributed  some  verses  descriptive  of  the  place  to  a  book  edited  by 
Mr.  Robert  Dymond,  of  Blackslade. 

From  1815  until  his  death  in  1860  the  Rev.  James  Holman  Mason 
was  vicar  of  Widecombe.  He  was  a  parson  of  the  old-fashioned  type, 
and  many  stories  are  yet  related  concerning  him.  Soon  after  his 
institution  to  the  parish  he  was  appointed  a  deputy  rider  and  master 
forester  of  Dartmoor.  [Hundred  Years,  Chap.  V.]  At  the  manor 
house  lived  his  niece,  Mrs.  Drake,  or  Lady  Drake,  as  she  insisted  on 
being  called,  who  is  still  well  remembered  for  her  eccentricities. 

Widecombe  has  been  called  the  cold  country,  and  like  every  other 
place  in  the  Dartmoor  region,  at  certain  times  it  must  be  confessed  its 
climate  is  anything  but  genial.  I  have  been  on  the  top  of  Hameldon 
when  the  hill  was  hard  gripped  by  the  hand  of  Winter,  and  darkness 
was  coming  on,  and  was  made  painfully  aware  of  it.  In  the  in-country 
it  used  to  be  said  when  snow  was  falling  that  Widecombe  folks  were 
picking  their  geese.  It  has,  however,  been  suggested  that  "  Wide- 
combe "  in  this  case  is  merely  a  corruption  of  "  widdicote,"  meaning 
the  sky,  and  it  is  possible  that  a  confusion  of  terms  led  to  the  former 
belief  that  Widecombe  was  a  very  cold  place.  The  comparison  of 
falling  snow  with  feathers  was  made  a  very  long  time  ago.  When  the 
Scythians  said  the  air  was  filled  with  them,  Herodotus  was  at  no  loss 
to  understand  what  was  meant. 

In  September  falls  the  great  event  of  the  year  in  this  moorland 
parish.  It  is  then  that  Widecombe  Fair  is  held,  and  forest  folk  and 
men  from  the  in-country  for  miles  around  flock  to  the  village,  as  on  a 
certain  day  (Tom  Pearse  havin'  lained  he's  grey  mare)  did  "  Beel 
Brewer,  Jan  Stewer,  Peter  Gurney,  Peter  Davy,  Dan'l  Whiddon, 
Harry  Hawk,  Old  Uncle  Tom  Cobbleigh  and  all."  Then  for  a  brief 
space  unwonted  sounds  are  heard  ;  the  voices  of  buyer  and  seller,  and 
the  laughter  of  the  reveller,  break  the  quietude.  But  the  next  rising 
sun  looks  down  into  the  valley  to  see  it  again  in  repose,  in  which  state 
it  continues  till,  another  twelve  months  having  passed,  the  day  of 
business  and  festivity  comes  round  again. 


BOVEY   TRACEY   IN   THE   PAST.  69 


Excursions  from  Bovey  Tracey,  Lustleigh, 
and  Ilsington. 

The  district  described  in  these  excursions  is  bounded  on  the  N. 
by  a  line  drawn  from  Lustleigh  Cleave  through  Manaton  to  Heytree 
Down  ;  on  the  W.  by  the  ridge  of  Hameldon  ;  and  on  the  S.  by  a  line 
running  from  Dunstone  to  Chittleford,  Blackslade  Down,  and  Hems- 
worthy  Gate,  to  Bag  Tor  Down.  In  the  Shorter  Excursions  a  few 
places  near  the  town  of  Bovey  Tracey  are  also  described,  and  in  the 
Excursions  from  Widecombe  directions  are  given  for  reaching  the 
chief  objects  of  interest  in  that  locality. 

[Tracks  in  the  vicinity  :  Nos.  48  to  52.] 

A  few  objects  will  claim  our  attention  before  we  set  out  on  our 
rambles.  Bovey  Tracey  church  stands  at  the  higher  part  of  the  town, 
and  is  dedicated  to  St.  Thomas,  of  Canterbury.  It  is  in  the  Per- 
pendicular style,  and  contains,  among  other  memorials,  monuments  to 
Sir  John  Stawell,  who  died  in  1669  ;  Nicholas  Eveleigh,  who  died  in 
1620  ;  and  Elizeus  Hele,  of  Fardle,  near  Ivybridge.  Those  of  the  two 
last-named  are  cenotaphs,  neither  of  the  men  they  commemorate  being 
buried  here.  The  monuments  were  erected,  it  is  said,  by  the  widow 
of  Hele,  who  had  been  wife  to  both.  Very  wisely  she  put  no  inscriptions 
on  the  monuments,  so  there  is  nothing  to  criticize.  Near  the  south 
gate  of  the  churchyard  is  a  very  handsome  cross,  but  it  is  in  great 
measure  a  "  restoration."  The  lower  part  of  the  shaft  and  one  of  the 
arms  are  all  that  belongs  to  the  original  cross,  but  it  was  deemed  fitting 
that  these  fragments  should  be  preserved.  Its  erection  here  was  due 
to  the  efforts  of  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Canon  Courtenay,  when  he  became 
vicar  of  Bovey. 

In  the  centre  of  the  town  is  another  of  these  memorials  of  a  past 
day.  This  is  the  old  market  cross,  which  was  repaired  and  placed  in 
its  present  situation  in  1865.  The  lower  stage  of  the  pedestal  on  which 
it  stands  is  modern,  as  also  is  the  head  of  the  cross.  A  third  cross  is 
to  be  seen  built  into  the  wall  of  a  garden  belonging  to  Cross  Cottage, 
not  far  from  Higher  Atway  Farm. 

At  Indio,  near  a  new  church  that  was  built  in  1853,  there  was 
formerly  a  priory,  or  cell,  of  Black  Friars,  and  a  chapel  is  also  ~aid  to 
have  existed  in  former  days  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town.  This  was 
situated  under  Colehays  Plantation,  and  not  very  far  from  Lower 
Brimley.  (S.  Ex.  81). 

Ex.  23. — Lustleigh,  Lustleigh  Cleave,  Little  Silver,  Manaton, 
Bowerman's  Nose,  Becky  Fall,  Trendlebere  Down,  13  m.  from  and  to 
Bovey  Station.  From  Lud  Gate  (the  point  where  the  road  from 
Ilsington  to  Hey  Tor  enters  on  the  common),  and  Ilsington  about 
i  m.  more. 

For  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  romantic  valley  known  as  Lust- 
leigh Cleave,  and  the  district  around  Manaton,  where  so  much  that  is 
interesting  is  to  be  found,  we  shall  first  make  our  way  to  the  village 


70  LUSTLEIGH    AND   BOVEY   TRACEY   DISTRICT. 

of  Lustleigh,  which  is  charmingly  situated  in  the  valley  of  the  Wray. 
Should  the  visitor  prefer  the  walk  through  the  lanes  instead  of  taking 
the  train  at  Bovey  (the  distance  by  railway  is  2£  m.),  he  will  cross  the 
line  at  the  station  and  follow  the  road  for  about  £  m.  to  Five  Wyches 
Cross,  where  he  will  turn  R.  ±  m.  on  is  a  footpath  across  some  fields 
R.,  and  into  this  he  will  strike,  and  skirting  Lodge  Wood,  and  crossing 
a  road  (running  R.  to  Wilford  Bridge),  will  be  led  by  it  to  Pullaford 
Farm.  This  he  will  pass  through,  and  follow  the  lane  to  New  Bridge 
on  the  Bovey. 

Visitors  at  the  Rock  Hotel,  The  Moorland  Hotel,  and  Lud  Gate 
will  take  the  Bovey  road  to  the  fork  beyond  Owlacombe,  i£  m.  from 
the  latter,  and  then  branch  L.  across  Lower  Down  to  the  guide-post, 
there  turning  R.  to  New  Bridge. 

Visitors  at  Ilsington,  or  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel,  first  make  their  way 
to  Narrowcombe,  where  they  will  turn  L.  and  passing  up  the  hill 
to  the  guide-post  on  the  verge  of  the  common,  will  reach  the 
Bovey  road.  Here  they  turn  R.  to  the  forks  beyond  Owlacombe  and 
follow  the  directions  just  given. 

Immediately  beyond  New  Bridge  is  Packsaddle  Bridge,  which 
spans  the  Wray.  The  former  the  visitor  will  cross,  but  not  the  latter, 
the  road  to  Lustleigh  turning  L-  between  the  two.  A  little  way  on 
this  forks,  the  point  being  marked  by  a  guide-post.  If  it  should  be 
desired  to  go  to  the  cleave  direct  the  L-  branch  must  be  followed  ;  for 
Lustleigh  village  the  R.  branch  will  be  chosen.  (By  the  L.  road  the 
down  will  be  reached  in  £  m.  Pass  the  first  cross  road  ;  then  the 
entrance  to  Pethybridge  Farm';  then  a  second  road,  and  continue  W. 
to  the  common.  From  this  point  a  footpath  runs  across  it  to  another 
leading  down  to  a  footbridge  on  the  Bovey  below  Wanford  Wood, 
f-  m.  distant). 

Lustleigh,  like  Bovey  Tracey,  is  outside  venville,  and  has  played 
no  part  in  Dartmoor  history,  but  it  has  its  place  among  the  parishes 
that  go  to  form  the  moorland  region,  nevertheless,  and  contributes 
in  no  slight  degree  to  its  beauties.  The  village  is  small,  but  has  a 
pleasing  appearance,  not  only  on  account  of  its  delightful  situation, 
but  for  the  manner  in  which  the  cottages  are  dotted  about.  The  church 
possesses  several  features  of  interest,  among  them  being  a  Norman 
font,  two  ancient  monumental  tombs,  and  an  inscribed  stone  of  the 
Romano-British  period.  One  monument  is  supposed  to  be  the  effigy 
of  Sir  William  Prouz,  and  another  is  generally  believed  to  be  to  the 
memory  of  Sir  John  Dynham  and  his  wife,  though  there  is  much  doubt 
about  this.  In  1483  the  office  of  Master  Forester  of  Dartmoor  was 
granted  to  Sir  John. 

The  Rev.  William  Davy,  who  was  curate  of  the  parish  at  the 
latter  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  during  the  first  quarter  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  was  the  compiler  of  a  work  which  he  called  A  System 
of  Divinity,  and  which  consisted  of  26  volumes  of  nearly  500  pages  each. 
Not  being  willing  to  incur  the  risk  of  having  it  printed,  he  purchased 
a  fount  of  worn-out  type,  made  a  press,  and  set  up  and  printed  the 
•whole  work  himself.  WTien  it  was  completed  he  presented  a  copy  to 
his  diocesan ;  referring  to  it  later  the  bishop  remarked  that  he  could 
not  be  supposed  to  notice  every  trifle  that  appeared  in  print.  William 
Davy  is  remembered  to-day,  but  the  bishop  is  forgotten  ;  posterity 
does  not  regard  the  result  of  fifty  years'  labour  as  a  trifle. 


72  LUSTLEIGH    AND   BOVEY  TRACEY    DISTRICT. 

Not  far  from  the  station  is  a  block  of  granite,  which  it  is  not 
unlikely  formed  the  pedestal  of  a  cross.  It  is  known  as  the  Bishop's 
Stone,  and  tradition  relates  that  Bishop  Grandisson  once  dined  upon  it. 
The  carving  on  the  side,  of  which,  however,  only  traces  are  now  to 
be  seen,  has  been  said  to  represent  the  arms  of  that  prelate.  But 
there  is  reason  for  supposing  that  it  was  once  a  bondmark  to  some 
lands  connected  with  the  See  of  Exeter,  and  it  may  have  obtained  its 
name  in  that  connection.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.]  Another  curious 
object  in  this  locality  is  a  rock  at  the  rectory  on  the  road  to  Sanduck 
called  the  Parson's  Brown  Loaf,  but  which,  it  appears,  once  bore  the 
name  of  the  Map  Stone,  and  this  has  been  given  to  the  villa  near  by. 

In  order  to  reach  the  common  we  shall  turn  up  a  lane  near  the 
smithy,  which  in  about  \  m.  will  bring  us  to  Ellimore.  Just  beyond 
this  we  turn  R.,  and  proceeding  for  a  short  distance  towards  Hammers- 
lake  turn  L.,  and  shall  speedily  find  ourselves,  close  to  Sharp  Tor,  the 
summit  of  which  is  about  200  feet  above  us.  From  this  pile  of  rocks 
we  have  a  fine  view  of  the  cleave,  by  which  term  is  now  comprehended 
the  romantic  valley  from  above  Poxworthy  to  Hisley  Wood,  though 
there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  in  this  case  the  word  cleave  is  a 
corruption  of  cliff,  (cf.  Tavy  Cleave,  Ex.  n).  At  all  events,  there 
is  documentary  evidence  showing  that  the  hill  was  once  known  as 
Bortor  Down  and  Bovey  Combe  Cliff,  and  Bovey  Combe  is  still  found 
here,  a  cottage  above  Hisley  Wood  being  called  by  that  name.  On 
the  tor  is  a  logan  bearing  the  name  of  the  Nutcrackers,  one  which  is 
applied  to  most  of  the  moving  stones  on  the  moor,  and  on  the  slope 
are  one  or  two  other  "  logging  "  rocks.  A  little  to  the  S.E-  of  the  tor 
is  a  small  circular  enclosure,  and  there  are  vestiges  of  another  a  short 
distance  N.W.  on  land  belonging  to  South  Harton-  Farm,  while  at  the 
N.W.  end  of  the  ridge,  near  Hunters  Tor,  is  an  ancient  hill  camp. 
This,  and  another  at  Water  Hill,  on  the  ridge  on  the  further  side  of  the 
valley,  form  part  of  the  chain  of  forts  referred  to  in  our  notice  of  the 
encampments  above  the  gorge  of  the  Teign  (S.  Exs.  64,  65,  66).  Some 
miles  further  S.  are  Place  Wood  Camp,  Boro  Wood  Castle,  Holne 
Chase  Castle,  and  Hembury  Castle,  all  of  which  are  briefly  noticed  in 
our  account  of  the  Ashburton  District. 

The  valley  of  Lustleigh  Cleave  is  formed  by  the  ridge  situated 
between  the  Wray  and  the  Bovey,  and  the  steeps  rising  from  the  latter 
to  the  farm  lands  of  Manaton.  One  side  of  it — that  on  which  we  stand 
— is  bare  common,  the  other  is  clothed  with  woods.  At  the  lower  end 
of  the  valley  this  further  side  takes  the  form  of  a  peninsulated  ridge, 
at  the  eastern  extremity  of  which  the  Bovey  and  the  Becky  Brook  unite 
their  waters.  This  is  known  as  Hound  Tor  Ridge,  or  Hound  Tor 
Wood,  its  higher  slopes  forming  Water  Hill,  on  which  is  situated  the 
encampment  just  referred  to.  On  the  further  side  of  this  ridge  the 
Becky  comes  down  from  Hound  Tor  Combe,  the  valley  here  being 
formed  by  the  wood  and  East  Down,  as  the  common  below  Trendle- 
bere  Down  is  called.  N.W.  of  Sharp  Tor  is  a  rock  called  Harton  Chest, 
and  just  beyond  this  the  fine  entrance  to  South  Harton  Farm.  A  little 
further  on  the  highest  part  of  the  ridge  is  reached,  1,063  feet-  an(i  beyond 
this,  and  about  i  m.  from  Sharp  Tor,  is  the  Lustleigh  Camp.  Quite 
near  to  it  is  Hunters  Tor,  from  which  the  hills  drops  down  to  the  enclosed 
lands  at  its  N.W.  extremity.  A  spur  of  it  runs  a  short  distance  north- 
ward of  the  camp,  and  this  is  known  as  North  Harton  Down.  Not  far 


EXCURSION  23.      LUSTLEIGH    CLEAVE.  73 

from  Hunters  Tor  is  Peck  Farm,  a  name  borne  by  some  old  mining 
remains  near  by,  these  being  usually  known  as  Peck  Pits.  In  the 
Shorter  Excursions,  post,  we  have  again  noticed  the  cleave  (S.  Ex.  75  ; 
vide  also  Gems,  Chap.  IX.) 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  a  number  of  paths  cross  the  down, 
forming  the  steep  side  of  the  cleave  (T.  48),  and  one  of  these  leads 
from  near  Sharp  Tor  to  crossing- places  on  the  Bovey.  This  we  may 
strike  by  making  our  way  southward  from  the  tor,  and  shall  then 
follow  it  R.  Our  next  point  is  Manaton,  the  church  of  which  we  have 
been  able  to  see  from  the  tor  nearly  due  W.,  and  i-J-  m.  off,  but  we  do 
not  make  our  way  direct  to  it.  Instead  of  doing  so  we  follow  the  path 
down  the  hill,  avoiding  the  branches  L.,  and  passing  some  rocks  called 
the  Poxes'  Yard  (L.  of  the  path  and  \  m.  from  the  tor)  shall  be  led  to 
Horsham  Steps.  This  curious  crossing-place  is  formed  by  a  number 
of  boulders  lying  so  closely  together  that  unless  the  river  be  in  flood 
it  is  possible  to  walk  from  one  bank  to  the  other  with  ease.  In  fact, 
the  stream  is  not  seen,  as  it  finds  a  channel  for  itself  under  the  huge 
lumps  of  granite.  Below  the  steps  it  falls  into  a  fine  pool  known  as 
Horsham  Bay,  and  then  sweeps  round  the  wooded  height  of  Horsham 
Cleave,  which  is  crowned  with  a  pile  of  rocks.  Form  these  natural 
stepping-stones  a  path  climbs  the  hill  on  the  further  side  of  the  stream 
to  Horsham  Farm,  whence  a  lane  runs  to  Manaton,  but  instead  of 
following  this  we  pass  up  the  I,,  bank  of  the  river,  under  the  crags  of 
Ravens'  Tor,  which  rise  from  the  hillside  R.,  some  300  feet  above  us,  to 
Foxworthy.  First  we  pass  the  disused  Foxworthy  Mill,  and  proceeding 
along  a  narrow  track  shall  speedily  reach  the  farm.  Here  we  turn  L. 
to  Foxworthy  Bridge,  a  clapper  spanning  the  Bovey,  on  the  bank  of 
which  just  below  is  the  mass  of  granite  known  as  the  Round  of  Beef, 
and  shall  find  ourselves  in  one  of  the  loveliest  nooks  in  the  whole  of 
Devon.  Close  to  us  on  the  R.  is  the  thatched  cottage  called  Little 
Silver,  which,  placed  amidst  a  congeries  of  moorstone,  and  embosomed 
in  trees,  adds  much  to  the  romantic  character  of  the  scene.  The  name 
Silver  is  found  attached  to  several  places  in  the  county,  and  much 
ingenuity  has  been  exercised  in  regard  to  its  meaning.  The  last 
syllable  may  possibly  be  a  corruption  of  ford,  and  may  refer  to  a  crossing- 
place  on  a  stream,  or  to  a  road  or  path,  but  the  meaning  of  sil  is  not 
apparent.  It  may,  however,  be  pointed  out  that  in  Domesday  Silverton 
appears  as  Sulfreton,  and  in  old  documents  we  have  such  a  place-name 
at  Sulhford.  Hence  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  first  syllable  of  the 
name  was  originally  sul,  and  perhaps  had  some  connection  with  the 
Anglo-Saxon  word  for  plough,  which  implement  is  even  yet  spoken  of 
on  the  moor  as  a  sull. 

Leaving  the  charming  scene  we  make  our  way  up  a  steep  and 
narrow  path,  through  the  wood  called  Neadon  Cleave,  on  emerging 
from  which  the  path  will  lead  us  across  some  fields  to  a  lane,  which 
will  shortly  bring  us  to  another,  where  we  turn  L.,  and  shall  speedily 
find  ourselves  at  Manaton.  The  chief  feature  of  this  Dartmoor  village, 
and  one  that  is  particularly  pleasing,  is  its  spacious  green.  This  is 
bordered  with  trees,  and  around  it  the  houses  are  grouped.  At  its 
higher,  or  northern  end,  is  a  small  inn,  the  Half  Moon,  and  behind  this 
is  the  tor  called  Manaton  Rocks,  which,  instead  of  rising  bare  and 
stern  from  the  heather,  springs,  as  it  were,  from  masses  of  foliage 
where  the  light  quivering  leaves  of  the  quickbeam  contrast  delightfully 


74  LUSTLEIGH    AND   BOVEY   TRACEY   DISTRICT. 

with  the  dark  green  of  the  glistening  holly.  The  view  of  Lustleigh 
Cleave  from  this  cluster  of  rocks  is  remarkably  fine.  In  another 
direction,  S.  by  E.,  we  see  Hey  Tor,  and  S.W.  by  S.,  beyond  the  little 
valley  of  the  Hayne,  the  great  stone  which  Nature  has  rudely  moulded 
into  a  semblance  of  the  human  form,  and  to  which  has  been  given  the 
name  of  Bowerman's  Nose. 

In  the  churchyard  is  the  base  of  a  cross.  The  cross  was  removed 
many  years  ago  by  a  former  rector  on  account  of  a  custom  the  country- 
people  had  of  carrying  corpses  brought  for  burial  round  it  thrice.  His 
influence  over  his  flock  does  not  appear  to  have  been  sufficiently  power- 
ful to  enable  him  to  dissuade  the  people  from  continuing  the  practice, 
and  so  he  took  it  away  and  either  destroyed  or  buried  it.  Search  was 
made  for  it,  but  without  any  satisfactory  result.  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.] 
A  few  years  ago  an  old  cross  was  discovered  near  the  village  and 
was  set  up  in  the  churchyard.  But  whether  it  is  the  cross  that  the 
rector  removed  is  open  to  question.  It  is  more  of  the  character  of  a 
wayside  cross  than  of  one  designed  to  stand  in  such  a  place.  Great 
damage  was  done  to  the  church  by  lightning  on  the  I3th  December, 
1779.*  Itis  Perpendicular  in  style,  and  was  restored  in  1 8  6  5 .  The  door- 
way is  formed  of  four  huge  granite  stones,  and  a  similar  one  is  seen  at 
Lustleigh.  An  enclosure  formerly  existed  near  the  village  which  was 
described  in  a  paper  read  before  the  members  of  the  Plymouth  Institu- 
tion in  1830,  and  was  conjectured  by  Colonel  Hamilton  Smith  to  have 
given  name  to  the  place,  maen-y-dun,  the  stone  enclosure  (dun,  a  hill,  or 
hill-fort),  but  it  was  unfortunately  destroyed  in  1849.  It  was  of  an 
elliptical  form,  and  consisted  of  a  wall  formed  of  stones  from  four  to 
six  feet  high  set  on  their  edges.  Its  diameters  were  100  feet  and  138 
feet.f  A  fragment  of  an  ancient  wall  is  still  to  be  seen  at  Town  Barton 
Farm,  but  whether  this  is  a  part  of  the  enclosure  in  question  seems 
to  be  rather  doubtful. 

A  short  distance  S.  of  Town  Barton  is  Hayne  Cross,  and  making 
our  way  thither  we  turn  R.  to  Hayne,  whence  a  path  will  lead  us  to 
Hayne  Down,  on  which,  about  £  m.  from  the  enclosures,  we  perceive 
the  weather-beaten  Bowerman's  Nose.  This  curiously-shaped  pile, 
which  the  imaginations  of  former  antiquaries  turned  into  a  rock  idol, 
is  really  part  of  a  tor,  the  other  part  having  gone  to  ruin  and  now 
forming  the  clatter  below  it.  It  consists  of  five  layers  of  granite,  and 
rises  to  a  height  of  nearly  forty  feet.  In  the  Notes  to  Carrington's 
Dartmoor,  1826,  it  is  stated  that  a  person  named  Bowerman  lived  at 
Hound  Tor,  near  by,  in  the  Conqueror's  time,  by  which  we  suppose 
some  sort  of  connection  between  that  individual  and  the  rock  is  sug- 
gested. But  it  has  also  been  thought  that  Bowerman  may  be  a 
corruption  of  vawr  maen,  the  great  stone.  This  derivation  is,  however, 
open  to  the  objection  that  the  words  would  not  fall  in  this  order,  but 
that  the  great  stone  would  be  referred  to  by  Celts  as  maen  vawr,  the  noun 

*  Dr.  Croker  (The  Eastern  Escarpment  of  Dartmoor,  1851)  refers 
to  this,  and  gives  an  extract  relating  to  it  from  the  parish  register. 

t  This  is  stated  by  Dr.  Croker  to  have  been  situated  in  a  field 
called  Hookaway.  He  says  it  was  partly  destroyed  in  1849,  and 
almost  wholly  so  in  1850,  only  six  stones  being  then  left  standing. 
The  above  measurements  were  taken  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Rowe,  who 
visited  the  enclosure  in  1828. 


EXCURSION  23.      BECKY   FALL.  75 

coining  first,  so  that  we  might  rather  expect  to  find  the  term  corrupted 
to  Minevower.  But  there  is  more  than  one  "  nose "  on  Dartmoor, 
or  "  nawze,"  as  the  moormen  say,  as  we  shall  see  by-and-bye,  and 
most,  if  not  all,  of  these  names  are  modern.  It  is  possible  that  this 
of  Bowerman's  Nose  may  also  be  of  no  great  antiquity,  though  we 
cannot  say  that  such  is  the  case.  About  £  m.  S.E.  of  Bowerman's 
Nose  is  another  tor  (1,300  feet),  the  two  being  connected  by  a  reave, 
and  near  this  is  a  kistvaen.  A  little  W.  of  S.  of  the  second  tor,  and 
less  than  J  m.  from  it,  is  a  small  group  of  hut  circles,  just  inside  a  new- 
take,  but  they  present  nothing  remarkable. 

[W.  of  Bowerman's  Nose  is  a  road  running  southward  to  Swine 
Down  Gate  (R.  32,  from  Moreton).  Should  the  visitor  choose  he  may 
follow  this,  and  on  passing  through  the  gate  turn  I,,  by  the  wall  and 
descend  by  Great  Hound  Tor  Farm  to  Leighon  Bridge,  as  in  R.  25, 
and  so  make  his  way  to  Bovey  as  therein  directed.] 

We  shall  return  from  the  down  to  Hayne  Cross,  either  by  way  of 
Hayne  or  through  Southcott,  which  latter  lies  under  the  southernmost 
tor  in  an  easterly  direction.  At  the  cross  we  keep  straight  on  to  Deal, 
where  we  pass  over  the  Hayne  Brook,  and  then  turning  R.  shall  follow 
the  road  to  the  Becky,  which  we  reach  immediately  above  where  the 
Hayne  falls  into  it,  and  close  to  New  Bridge.  Here  we  cross  the 
last-named  stream  at  a  foot-bridge,  and  after  passing  over  two  others, 
shall  reach  Becky  Pall,  a  spot  beloved  by  all  visitors  to  this  part  of  the 
moor. 

Although  Becky  Fall  may  not  on  ordinary  occasions  fully  realize 
the  expectations  of  those  who  look  to  see  a  cascade,  it  can  never  be 
disappointing,  for  the  beauty  of  its  surroundings  more  than  com- 
pensates for  the  lack  of  a  full  stream.  But  viewed  at  the  time 
of  a  summer  freshet  the  fall  is  very  fine,  for  then  the  little  river,  nut 
brown  and  necked  with  foam,  comes  down  with  a  roar,  and  dashes 
impetuously  over  the  rocks  that  fill  its  channel.  From  the  top  of  the 
falls  to  the  bottom  the  drop  is  from  70  to  80  feet,  and  having  rolled 
and  tumbled  to  the  foot  of  this  boulder-strewn  steep,  it  runs  along 
merrily  under  Hound  Tor  Wood  to  meet  the  Bovey  as  it  comes  from 
Lustlcigh  Cleave.  Then  the  united  stream  flows  on  between  Rudge 
Wood  and  Pullabrook  Wood,  and  having  passed  under  New  Bridge 
receives  the  Wray,  and  thence,  knowing  only  the  name  of  Bovey,  the 
waters  run  to  the  great  plain  of  the  Heathfield,  where  they  are  lost 
in  the  Teign. 

Returning  to  New  Bridge  we  cross  it,  and  thence  follow  the  road 
over  Trendlebere  Down,  known  as  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive.  By  the 
side  of  this  is  a  stone  row  with  a  small  cairn  at  one  end  of  it,  but  most 
of  the  stones  are  fallen.  The  road  will  take  us  along  the  foot  of 
Yarner  Wood,  and  here  we  have  a  fine  view  northward  of  Lustleigh 
Cleave.  Having  passed  the  wood  we  reach  a  guide-post  just  beyond 
which  the  road  forks.  The  L.  branch  will  take  us  to  Five  Wyches 
Cross,  about  £  m.  from  Bovey  Station  ;  the  R.  to  Lower  Down  Cross, 
\  m.  from  the  former.  Vide  R.  25.  On  reaching  the  common 
from  New  Bridge  visitors  at  Ilsington  and  the  vicinity  should  turn 
R.,  and  ascending  to  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive  make  their  way 
S.  to  Yarner  Wells.  Instructions  for  reaching  their  destination  from 
that  point  are  given  at  the  end  of  Ex.  24.  A  notice  of  Yarner  Wells 
will  be  found  in  Ex.  25. 


76  LUSTLEIGH    AND   BOVEY   TRACEY   DISTRICT. 

Ex.  24. — Lower  Down  Cross,  Leighon,  Swine  Down  Gate,  Jay's 
Grave.  [EXTENSION  to  Cripdon  Down,  Natsworthy,  and  Bonehilt 
Down.}  Hound  Tor,  Grea  Tor,  Hound  Tor  Combe,  Black  Hill,  Yarner 
Wells,  12%  m.  ;  with  Extension,  16  m.  from  and  to  Bovey  Station. 
Prom  Lud  Gate,  4^  m.  less  ;  Ilsington,  2  m.  less. 

Setting  out  from  the  station  the  visitor  will  take  the  road  to  the 
moor  as  in  Ex.  23,  but  instead  of  turning  off  at  Five  Wyches  Cross  he 
will  continue  straight  up  the  hill  to  Lower  Down  Cross,  nearly  £  m. 
further  on,  where  he  will  turn  R.  by  the  school.  In  about  i  m.  he 
will  reach  a  guide-post,  where  a  road  runs  up  the  hill  to  the  lower 
Yarner  Lodge.  This  he  will  leave  on  the  L-,  and  striking  into  the 
Lower  Terrace  Drive  will  speedily  be  led  by  it  to  the  edge  of  Yarner 
Wood.  The  drive,  which  is  first  carried  along  the  lower  part  of  the 
wood,  gradually  ascends  to  a  point  where  the  hill  on  the  L.  becomes 
very  steep,  and  here,  300  feet  above  the  guide-post,  it  leaves  the 
wood  and  turns  towards  the  north.  The  visitor  will  now  forsake  the 
road,  and  climb  the  hill  L.,  his  course  being  a  trifle  S.  of  W.,  and  in  a 
little  over  \  m.  will  reach  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive  at  a  point  about 
\  m.  N.  of  Yarner  Wells. 

Visitors  from  Ilsington  and  the  neighbourhood  will  reach  this  point 
by  way  of  the  Wells,  as  directed  in  Ex.  25  and  in  S.  Ex.  79. 

Crossing  the  drive  the  rambler  will  bear  W.,  with  the  summit  of 
Black  Hill  L.,  and  soon  afterwards  bending  R.  will  strike  the  road 
running  down  to  Leighon  (S.  Ex.  79),  which  will  lead  him  past  the  house 
to  the  bridge  over  the  Becky  Brook.  Crossing  it  he  will  turn  L-  a  few 
yards  below,  and  will  soon  come  in  sight  of  Great  Hound  Tor  Farm. 
This  he  will  leave  on  the  R.,  and  pass  up  the  steep  and  narrow  lane 
leading  to  Hound  Tor  Down,  on  reaching  which  he  will  obtain  a  remark- 
ably fine  view  of  Hound  Tor,  or  rather  of  one  part  of  it.  The  huge 
rocks  are  seen  cresting  a  height  immediately  above  him,  and  sharply 
defined  against  the  sky.  Proceeding  upward,  with  the  wall  of  some 
enclosures  R.  and  Hound  Tor  Down  L-,  the  visitor  will  soon  reach 
Swine  Down  Gate,  or  as  it  is  locally  called,  Swallaton  Gate,  close  to 
which  is  a  cottage.  Passing  through  this  he  will  take  the  L.  branch 
of  the  road  at  the  forks  immediately  inside.  (The  R.  branch  runs 
over  Hayne  Down,  passing  very  near  to  Bowerman's  Nose,  less  than 
i  m.  distant,  Ex.  23,  to  Langstone,  North  Bovey,  and  Moreton,  R.  53). 
The  road  we  now  follow  skirts  Swine  Down,  the  enclosures  of  Hedge 
Barton  being  on  the  L-  About  J  m.  from  the  gate  a  path  runs  off  L. 
between  the  estate  named  and  Heytree,  and  here  we  shall  notice  a 
small  mound,  with  a  head  and  footstone.  It  is  the  burial  place  of  a 
suicide,  and  is  known  as  Jay's  Grave.  Kitty  Jay,  as  she  used  to  be 
spoken  of,  is  said  to  have  been  a  young  unmarried  woman,  who 
many  years  ago  hanged  herself  in  an  outbuilding  belonging  to  Canna, 
a  farm  not  far  from  the  foot  of  East  Down  (S.  Ex.  61),  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  barbarous  custom  of  the  time,  was  interred  at  this 
cross-way.  About  1861  Mr.  James  Bryant,  of  Hedge  Barton,  caused 
the  grave  to  be  opened,  when  human  bones,  including  a  skull,  were 
discovered,  and  declared  on  examination  to  be  those  of  a  female. 
The  date  of  the  unfortunate  woman's  death  is  unknown,  as  no  one 
then  remembered  the  occurrence.  Mr.  Bryant  had  the  bones  placed 
in  a  box  and  re-interred  on  the  spot  where  they  had  been  found,  and 
raised  the  mound  and  set  up  the  stones  that  now  mark  it. 


EXCURSION  24.     HONEYBAG  AND  CHINKWELL  TORS.      77 

From  this  point  the  road  runs  northward,  with  Cripdon  Down  R. 
and  the  Heytree  enclosures  L.,  to  Heytree  Cross,  Easdon  Farm,  Beetor 
Cross,  and  Chagford,  and  has  already  been  described  in  R.  53.  Cripdon 
Down,  which  presents  nothing  remarkable,  is  a  small  common  to  the 
W.  of  Hayne  Down.  At  its  northern  end,  near  Cripdon  Farm,  are  a 
few  hut  circles,  and  close  to  a  path  running  across  it  to  Blissmoor 
Farm  there  is  a  small  pool. 

[EXTENSION  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  Widecombe  Valley.  Instead  of 
returning  direct  to  Hound  Tor  Down  the  visitor  may  extend  his  walk 
so  as  to  embrace  the  tors  overlooking  the  valley  of  Widecombe,  and  for 
this  purpose  will  turn  into  the  path  running  W.  from  Jay's  Grave. 
This,  which  is  known  as  Heytree  Common  L,ane,  will  lead  him  by  a 
small  plantation  to  Heytree  Down,  a  common  to  the  S.  of  Vogwell 
Down,  and  on  which  there  is  a  group  of  hut  circles.  These  will  be 
found  on  its  western  side,  near  a  track.  Vogwell  Down,  which  is  even 
smaller  than  Heytree,  lies  to  the  S.  of  the  farm  bearing  the  same  name, 
and  is  partly  surrounded  by  plantations,  S.  Ex.  61,  62.  Our  way  lies 
along  the  southern  verge  of  Heytree,  with  Hameldon  rising  before  us, 
to  it  S.W.  corner,  close  to  Natsworthy,  and  f-  m.  from  the  grave  at  the 
crossway.  Here  we  strike  the  road  coming  from  Heytree  Cross  and 
running  southward  to  Widecombe,  and  shall  turn  into  it  L.  Passing 
Higher  and  Lower  Natsworthy  we  follow  this  road  for  about  \  m. 
from  the  latter,  when  we  shall  turn  L.,  between  a  plantation  and  some 
enclosures,  to  the  common.  Above  us  are  the  rocks  of  Honeybag,  to 
which  we  shall  climb,  and  thence  make  our  way  southward  across  Bone- 
hill  Down.  The  moor  road  runs  on  below  the  tors  for  a  considerable 
distance,  joining  the  Ashburton  road  rather  less  than  i^  m.  S.  of  Swine 
Down  Gate,  which  shortly  afterwards  unites  with  the  one  leading  from 
Widecombe  to  Hemsworthy  Gate.  From  Honeybag  Tor  we  have  a  fine 
view  of  the  upper  part  of  the  Widecombe  valley,  and  of  Hameldon,  a 
wide  extent  of  moorland  and  cultivated  country  being  also  visible. 
The  derivation  of  its  name  is  not  clear,  but  it  may  be  worth  while  to  note, 
if  only  as  a  curious  circumstance,  its  similarity  to  hunne-bed,  a  name 
given  to  ancient  burial  monuments  situated  chiefly  in  the  province  of 
Drenthe  in  the  Netherlands.  To  the  E.  of  the  tor,  and  close  to  it,  is 
Goodlays  Plantation,  belonging  to  Hedge  Barton,  and  the  house  is  also 
quite  near.  Proceeding  southward  we  make  our  way  to  Chinkwell  Tor, 
the  next  height,  1,504  feet,  before  reaching  which  we  pass  one  of  a  line 
of  manorial  boundary  stones,  standing  at  a  point  called  Slades  Well. 
Another  boundary  near  by  is  known  as  L.  Corner.  On  this  part 
of  the  down  there  are  several  hut  circles,  and  on  the  tor  we  shall  also 
fine  some  reaves,  which  appear  not  unlike  parts  of  rectangular 
enclosures,  while  the  summit  is  crowned  with  a  dilapidated  cairn, 
much  overgrown.  From  this  lefty  point  we  have  another  grand  view  ; 
in  fact,  during  our  progress  over  the  down  we  have  around  us  a  wonder- 
ful panorama  of  rock  and  hill,  of  wood  and  fieid.  Southward  of 
Chinkwell  is  another  pile  of  rocks,  to  which  the  name  of  Sharp  Tor 
is  sometimes  given,  and  still  further  south  is  Bel  Tor,  1,319  feet,  on 
which  we  shall  find  two  or  three  rock  basins.  Near  it  a  footpath  runs 
to  Hedge  Barton,  and  this  we  shall  cross,  as  well  as  a  road  running 
over  the  common  towards  Hound  Tor  Down,  and  also  a  continuation 
of  the  one  which  we  left  below  Honeybag.  Soon  we  reach  Bonehill 


78  LUSTLEIGH    AND   BOVEY   TRACEY   DISTRICT. 

Rocks,  1,227  feet,  a  fine  pile  near  the  southern  end  of  Bonehill  Down, 
and  having  climbed  it,  and  looked  down  upon  Widecombe  village, 
nearly  500  feet  below,  we  pass  up  the  ascent  eastward  to  the  Chag- 
ford  and  Ashburton  road,  to  which  a  walk  of  a  £  m.  will  bring  us. 
Here  we  turn  L.,  and  on  passing  the  corner  of  the  Hedge  Barton 
enclosures  shall  find  ourselves  on  Hound  Tor  Down.  The  road  runs 
on  for  J  m.  to  Swine  Down  Gate,  with  the  wall  of  Hedge  Down,  which 
is  now  enclosed,  on  the  L.,  but  we  shall  strike  over  the  common  R. 
towards  Hound  Tor.] 

Retracing  our  steps  from  Jay's  Grave  we  shall  again  pass  through 
Swine  Down  Gate,  and  make  our  way  to  Hound  Tor,  which  is  close  by. 
This  tor,  certainly  one  of  the  finest  on  the  moor,  consists  of  three  main 
piles,  rising  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  ground.  Around  these 
are  many  smaller  masses  of  granite,  the  tor  covering  altogether  a  large 
area.  The  view  which  the  visitor  will  obtain  from  it  will  well  repay 
him  for  any  trouble  he  may  have  taken  to  reach  it.  It  is  one  of  border 
scenery,  and  of  far-off  farm  lands.  He  does  not  look  into  the  desolate 
parts  of  the  moor,  the  wildness  of  its  recesses  being  altogether  hidden 
notwithstanding  that  a  great  extent  of  it  is  visible  ;  but  he  sees  it 
where  its  sterness  is  softened  down  to  a  mood  more  fitting  to  welcome 
the  woods  and  fields  that  press  against  its  slopes.  A  short  distance 
S.  of  the  tor  is  a  ruined  kistvaen.  Little  of  it  now  remains,  many  of 
the  stones  of  which  it  consisted  having  been  taken  away  about  forty 
years  ago  for  road  material.  [Gems,  Chap.  X.] 

Leaving  Hound  Tor  we  shall  descend  the  side  of  the  combe  which 
bears  its  name  to  Grea  Tor,  crossing  on  the  way  the  path  running  S. 
towards  Holwell  (T.  50).  Grea  Tor,  which  is  not  quite  £  m.  S.E.  of 
Hound  Tor,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  on  the  moor,  and  is  draped 
in  a  similar  manner  to  Manaton  Rocks  and  Okel  Tor  (Ex.  23,  i). 
Springing  from  the  crevices  of  the  grey  rocks,  that  rise  like  a  stately 
tower  from  the  turf,  are  ferns  and  whortleberry  plants,  and  the  graceful 
quickbeam,  partly  shrouding  them  as  perchance  they  did  long  ago 
when  a  maiden  walked  with  her  lover  here  at  eventide.  Then  a  time 
arrived  when  she  came  alone  to  the  tor,  for  the  youth  had  been  called 
away  to  the  wars.  Summer  followed  summer,  and  at  length  the 
maiden's  visits  ceased,  and  the  tor  knew  her  no  more.  She  rested 
in  the  quiet  churchyard  of  Manaton,  while  her  lover  slept  in  a  foreign 
land. 

Passing  down  the  Hound  Tor  Combe,  we  cross  the  Becky  and 
ascend  the  hill,  with  Smallacombe  Rocks  R.  and  Leighon  Tor  L.,  our 
course  being  about  E.  The  last-named  pile  is  on  the  slope  of  Black 
Hill,  and  over  the  southern  edge  of  this  we  pass,  and  descending  its 
steep  eastern  side  shall  reach  Yarner  Wells,  i  m.  from  the  combe. 
From  this  point  the  return  to  Lud  Gate  will  be  by  way  of  the  Higher 
Terrace  Drive.  If  bound  to  Ilsington  the  visitor  will  leave  this  £  m. 
beyond  the  Wells,  and  follow  a  narrow  moor  road  branching  from  it  L. 
This  will  bring  him  to  the  guide-post  below  Owlacombe  Barrow,  where 
he  will  take  the  road  to  the  village,  turning  R.  shortly  before  reaching 
it  at  Narrowcombe.  For  Bovey  the  visitor  will  pass  down  the  hill 
N.E.  from  the  Wells,  with  Yarner  Wood  close  to  him  on  the  R.  In 
little  over  £  m.  he  will  reach  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive,  and  turning  into 
this  R.  will  reach  the  town  as  in  the  preceding  excursion,  or  R.  25. 

(The  road  route  from  Hound  Tor  is  given  at  the  end  of  R.  25). 


EXCURSION  25.      ILSINGTON   COMMON.  79 

Ex.  25. — Yarner  Wells,  Black  Hill,  Leighon  Tor,  Smallacombe 
Rocks,  Holwell  Tor,  Saddle  Tor,  Bag  Tor  Down,  Hey  Tor,  n  m.  from 
and  to  Bovey  Station.  From  the  Rock  Hotel,  the  Moorland  Hotel, 
and  Lud  Gate,  about  5  m.  less  ;  Ilsington,  2}  m.  less. 

The  road  leading  upward  from  the  station  to  the  moor  will  be 
followed  as  hi  the  preceding  excursions,  and  as  Yarner  Wells  is  his  first 
point  the  visitor  may  again  turn  R.  at  Lower  Down  Cross,  and  make 
his  way  by  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive  to  the  foot  of  Yarner  Wood,  and 
then,  keeping  this  close  on  the  L-,  pass  up  the  common  to  the  Wells. 
Or  he  may  keep  straight  up  the  hill  instead  of  turning  at  the  Cross, 
for  another  i^-  m.,  when  he  will  reach  the  common  near  Owlacombe. 
Here  he  will  leave  the  road,  and  turning  R.  strike  over  the  edge  of  this 
above  Yarner  Wood,  and  passing  Yarner,  the  residence  of  Mr.  Justice 
Eve,  will  soon  reach  a  narrow  road,  which  a  little  further  on  runs  into 
the  Higher  Terrace  Drive,  about  £  m.  from  the  Wells.  This  is  the  path 
referred  to  in  Ex.  24  as  being  the  direct  one  from  the  last-named  point 
to  Ilsington. 

Visitors  from  Ilsington  reach  the  common  soon  after  passing 
Narrowcombe,  as  hi  Ex.  23,  and  crossing  the  main  road  at  the  guide- 
post  on  its  verge,  will  take  the  narrower  one  just  mentioned,  which 
runs  up  the  hill  in  a  north-westerly  direction.  On  the  R.  is  a  line  of 
bondstones,  which  extends  from  near  the  guide-post  to  the  Becky, 
in  Hound  Tor  Combe,  one  part  of  it  marking  the  boundary  between 
the  parishes  of  Ilsington  and  Bovey  Tracey,  the  other  the  boundary 
between  Ilsington  and  Manaton.  These  stones,  like  most  others  that 
serve  a  similar  purpose  on  Dartmoor,  bear  names,  the  third  which  the 
visitor  will  pass  after  leaving  the  road  being  called  Prince  Albert,  and 
the  one  next  to  it  being  generally  referred  to  as  Owlacombe  Barrow, 
though  no  tumulus  now  exists  there.  A  little  beyond  this  the  visitor 
will  cross  the  line,  and  the  next  stone  will  therefore  be  on  his  left. 
This  is  known  as  Old  William,  the  one  still  further  up  the  hill  being 
Old  Jack.  Beyond  this  is  Victoria,  and  the  next  marks  the  point 
where  the  parishes  of  Ilsington,  Manaton,  and  Bovey  Tracey  meet,  the 
line  between  the  last  two  running  down  the  hill  direct  to  Yarner 
Wells,  rather  over  £  m.  distant,  N.E.  by  N.  The  Ilsington  and 
Manaton  line  then  runs  on  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  bond-stone,  then  to 
Hole  Rock,  and  thence  to  the  Becky.  Above  the  point  where  it 
strikes  this  little  stream  the  latter  becomes  the  boundary,  and  two 
or  three  stones  are  found  on  its  bank.  There  is  one  at  Long  Pool, 
under  Smallacombe  Rocks,  and  another  further  up  which  is  known 
as  Duke  Stone.  The  line  then  runs  on  to  Hawkeswell,  near  the  head 
of  the  Becky,  and  thence  to  Seven  Lords'  Land,  which  is  noticed 
further  on  (S.  Ex.  82). 

Visitors  from  the  Rock  Hotel,  the  Moorland  Hotel,  and  from  Lud  Gate 
will  proceed  to  the  Wells  by  way  of  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive.  Visitors 
at  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel  can  also  readily  reach  this  drive  via  Lud  Gate. 

The  tract  of  moorland  lying  to  the  S.  of  the  line  drawn  from  Owla- 
combe to  the  Becky,  and  extending  beyond  Rippon  Tor  to  the  enclosures 
of  Mountsland  and  Horridge,  is  situated  in  the  parish  of  Ilsington, 
and  its  northern  portion  is  usually  spoken  of  as  Ilsington  Common. 
This  consists  of  two  parts,  the  northernmost  forming  Hey  Tor  Down, 
and  that  to  the  S.  of  it  Bag  Tor  Down,  and  over  these  our  present 
excursion  will  extend.  That  part  of  the  Ilsington  common  lands 


8o  LUSTLEIGH    AND    BOVEY   TRACEY    DISTRICT. 

lying  still  further  S.  and  comprising  Horridge  Common,  on  which 
Rippon  Tor  is  situated,  and  Mountsland  Common  are  noticed  in  the 
Ashburton  Section,  and  to  this  visitors  desirous  of  exploring  that  part 
of  the  moor  are  referred. 

At  Yarner  Wells,  where  is  a  cottage  on  the  edge  of  the  wood,  a 
little  stream  rises  in  a  romantic  hollow  and  runs  down  the  steep  hill- 
side, one  portion  of  it  being  conducted  to  the  old  Yarner  Copper  Mine, 
and  another  to  the  fish  pond  near  the  lower  Yarner  lodge.  The  spot 
lies  immediately  under  the  steep  brow  of  Black  Hill,  the  summit  of 
which,  though  only  J  m.  distant,  is  some  300  feet  higher,  its  elevation 
being  1,339  feet.  To  this  we  shall  now  make  our  way,  following  a 
N.W.  course,  and  on  reaching  it  shall  find  it  to  be  crowned  with  a 
tumulus.  The  view  from  this  point  is  very  fine,  and  embraces  the 
lower  valley  of  the  Becky  with  Manaton  and  Lustleigh  Cleave,  and  in 
another  direction  Hound  Tor  with  the  moorlands  beyond.  A  little 
W.  of  S.  of  the  summit,  and  near  Leighon  Tor,  is  a  group  of  three 
tumuli,  a  number  found  together  in  many  parts  of  the  moor.  S.  of 
the  tor  is  the  boundary  line  just  described,  which  here  runs  from  Prince 
of  Wales  Stone  westward  to  Hole  Rock,  and  this  we  cross  on  our 
way  to  Smallacombe  Rocks,  a  large  cluster  of  granite  masses  placed, 
like  Leighon  Tor,  on  the  slope  forming  the  eastern  side  of  Hound  Tor 
Combe.  Above  it,  on  the  E.,  is  a  group  of  hut  circles,  some  of  them 
being  good  examples,  and  on  one  of  the  outlying  piles  to  the  S.W.  is  a 
rocking,  or  logan,  stone,  about  which,  however,  there  is  nothing  very 
striking.  Proceeding  southward  we  pass  the  head  of  a  rivulet  which 
falls  into  the  Becky  at  Long  Pool,  and  just  beyond  this  shall  notice  a 
small  pound,  near  the  branch  of  the  tramway  running  to  the  deserted 
granite  quarry  below.  Crossing  the  tramway  we  direct  our  steps  to 
Holwell  Tor,  where  the  rock  masses  rise  from  an  extensive  clatter. 
The  lower  part  of  this  is  not  more  than  about  100  feet  above  the  Becky, 
and  some  400  yards  from  it,  but  its  higher  part  is  twice  that  distance 
from  the  stream.  In  the  combe,  just  below,  is  Holwell  Cottage,  and 
above  it  the  farm  of  that  name,  while  rising  beyond  this  is  Holwell 
Down,  over  which  the  Chagford  road  runs  from  Hemsworthy  Gate 
to  Hedge  Barton.  On  the  lower  side  of  the  clatter  is  a  small  pound 
and  some  hut  circles. 

On  the  hill  about  f-  m.  S.  of  Holwell  Tor  is  Saddle  Tor,  and  to  this 
we  shall  now  direct  our  steps,  passing  on  our  way  another  branch  of 
the  disused  granite  tramway.  This  was  constructed  by  Mr.  George 
Templer,  of  Stover,  well  known  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century  for  his  scholarly  attainments  and  his  prowess  in  the  hunting 
field,  as  well  as  for  his  efforts  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  county. 
His  father  having  previously  constructed  a  canal  from  Newton  Abbot  to 
Teigngrace,  Mr.  Templer  conceived  the  idea  of  connecting  it  by  means 
of  a  tramway  with  the  moor.  He  carried  out  his  project,  and  the  road 
was  opened  in  September,  1820.  It  is  interesting  as  being  the  first 
line  constructed  in  Devon.  It  was  very  skilfully  planned,  and  the 
wagons  ran  on  grooved  blocks  of  granite,  which  took  the  place  of  rails. 
Over  it  was  conveyed  the  stone  quarried  near  Hey  Tor,  and  which  was 
shipped  at  Teignmouth.  It  was  used  for  the  arches  of  London  Bridge, 
and  also  for  the  columns  of  the  British  Museum  library,  as  well  as  in 
other  important  buildings.  The  quarries  have,  however,  ceased  to  be 
worked  for  many  years.  [Hundred  Years,  Chap.  III.] 


EXCURSION  25.      THE   LEMON.      HEY  TOR.  Si 

Saddle  Tor  is  the  central  of  the  three  frontier  piles  that  form  such 
conspicuous  objects  when  viewed  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Kings- 
teignton,  the  others  being  Rippon  Tor,  \  m.  distant  in  a  S.W.  direction, 
and  Hey  Tor,  \  m.  N.E.  It  overlooks  the  head  of  Hound  Tor  Combe, 
which  extends  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  Rippon  Tor  is  placed,  a 
distance  of  more  than  2  m.  above  Leighon  Bridge.  Close  to  it  a  foot- 
path climbs  over  the  down,  cutting  off  a  bend  in  the  road,  which  here 
runs  westward  to  Hemsworthy  Gate,  rather  over  \  m.  away.  Risdon 
speaks  of  this  pile  as  "  a  noted  place  called  Saddletor,"  from  the  hills 
near  which  he  says  the  Loman,  or  as  we  now  call  it,  the  Lemon, 
"  fetcheth  her  fountain."  The  nearest  stream  to  the  tor  is  the  Sig, 
which  rises  on  Bag  Tor  Down,  about  \  m.  S.  of  it,  and  to  this  we  shall 
now  make  our  way.  It  falls  into  the  Lemon  (the  springs  of  which  are 
near  Hey  Tor)  just  below  Sigford,  and  immediately  after  having 
received  the  waters  of  the  Langworthy  Brook. 

Descending  the  tor  we  cross  the  road  and  presently  come  upon 
a  track  that  branches  from  it  further  R.  (T.  49),  and  this  we  shall 
follow  L.  It  will  lead  us  along  the  bank  of  the  stream,  which  flows 
through  a  shallow  hollow  to  Bag  Tor  Woods,  but  we  desert  it  on 
nearing  the  tor  these  are  named  after,  and  make  our  way  to  the 
latter  which  we  see  on  the  I,.  There  is  nothing  remarkable  in  the  rocks 
themselves,  but  the  spot  is  worth  visiting  for  the  picture  of  a  retired 
border  nook  there  presented.  The  stream  is  lost  in  the  woods  below, 
in  one  part  of  which  is  embosomed  the  ancient  house  called  after  the 
little  tor,  and  the  former  home  of  the  Fords.  This  is  noticed  in  S.  Ex. 
81.  On  leaving  Bag  Tor  we  strike  into  a  track  running  close  to  it,  and 
following  it  N.W.  shall  be  led  over  the  side  of  Pinchaford  Ball  to  the 
road  under  Hey  Tor,  from  which  we  may  readily  reach  the  rocks. 

This  well-known  tor,  rendered  by  its  shape  and  situation  the  most 
conspicuous  on  the  moor,  consists  of  two  huge  masses  of  rock  rising 
from  the  highest  part  of  the  down,  and  attains  an  elevation  of  1,491 
feet.  The  name  it  bears  may  be  the  Anglo-Saxon  heah,  meaning  high, 
or  merely  a  corruption  of  the  English  word,  as  in  the  case  of  the  tor 
above  Tavy  Cleave,  referred  to  in  our  description  of  the  Lydford  district 
(Ex.  1 1 ).  The  moormen,  in  accordance  with  their  habit  of  duplicating 
the  final  syllable  when  naming  the  tors,  usually  speak  of  it  as  "  Heyter 
Tar,"  and  as  "  Heyter  Rocks,"  and  this  seems  to  have  misled  the 
writer  of  a  brief  account  of  the  moor  published  many  years  ago.  He 
calls  it  Athur  Tor,  or  Solar  Tor,  deriving,  we  suppose,  the  latter  name 
from  the  former,  and  evidently  regarding  it  as  a  place  where  sacrifices 
were  once  offered  to  the  sun-god.  We  may  smile  at  this,  but  deriva- 
tions no  less  far-fetched  are  suggested  to-day.  We  have  the  case  of 
Yr  ynys  Tor,  that  is  the  island  tor,  offered  as  the  probable  original  of 
the  thirteenth  century  Ernes torre,  a  name  which  it  is  sought  to  fasten 
upon  Yes  Tor,  for  the  reason  that  it  looks  like  an  island  when  its  summit 
is  seen  rising  from  a  seat  of  mist.  The  Hundred  of  Hey  Tor  apparently 
takes  its  name  from  these  rocks,  although  they  are  not  within  it,  and 
it  has  been  said  that  the  Hundred  Court  was  formerly  held  there, 
but  on  what  grounds  we  are  unable  to  discover.  In  the  north-eastern 
rock  steps  have  been  cut,  and  these  are  furnished  with  an  iron  hand- 
rail, so  that  it  is  easily  ascended.  Dr.  Croker,  writing  in  1851,  alludes 
to  this  as  "  the  unsightly  stair  step  to  enable  the  enervated  and 
pinguitudinous  scions  of  humanity  of  this  wonderful  nineteenth  century 


82  LUSTLEIGH  AND  BOVEY  TRACEY  DISTRICT. 

to  gain  its  summit."  The  twentieth  century  visitor  is,  of  course,  of 
quite  a  different  stamp,  but  he  will  probably  argue  that  since  the  steps 
are  cut  he  may  as  well  use  them.  On  the  summit  is  a  rock-basin,  but 
Nature  has  not  been  so  happy  in  the  formation  of  this  one  as  in  some 
she  has  scooped  out  on  the  moor.  The  view  from  this  lofty  station  is 
magnificent,  and  if  the  visitor  takes  the  trouble  to  climb  to  the  top  of 
the  south-western  pile  there  will  be  nothing  to  obstruct  it.  A  great 
part  of  South  Devon  lies,  as  it  were,  at  the  feet  of  the  beholder.  The 
estuary  of  the  Teign,  with  the  Channel  off  Teignmouth,  is  plainly 
visible,  a  wide  stretch  of  the  latter,  extending  westward  from  Port- 
land, being  in  view.  Eastward  the  rock  masses  on  the  high  land 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hennock  and  Bridford  are  seen,  and  moor- 
ward,  with  great  Cosdon  conspicuous  to  the  N.W.,  the  brown  hills  of 
the  ancient  forest. 

From  Hey  Tor  we  shall  descend  to  the  Moorland  Hotel.  Close  to 
this,  southward,  the  road  forks  :  L.  to  the  Rock  Hotel  at  Hey  Tor 
Vale;  R.  towards  Pinchaford  Farm,  bearing  L.  at  the  cross  roads 
below  it,  to  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel  and  Ilsington.  Bovey  visitors  will 
follow  the  road  running  eastward,  reaching  the  confines  of  the  moor  in 
about  i  m.  ;  thence  down  the  hill  with  Colehays  Plantation  R.  to  Lower 
Down  Cross  and  Five  Wyches  Cross,  and  on  to  the  line  near  the  station 
— a  descent  of  nearly  a  thousand  feet. 


Shorter  Excursions. 

S.  Ex.  71. — John  Cann's  Rocks,  Bot  Tor  Rock,  and  Hennock,  6  m. 
The  visitor,  starting  from  Bovey,  will  leave  the  town  by  the  Moreton 
road,  passing  the  old  cross  at  Atway,  and  £  m.  beyond  will  take  the  R. 
branch  at  the  forks,  and  enter  Lower  Aller  Lane.  A  few  hundred  yards 
further  up  turn  R.  at  the  cross-road,  and  soon  the  woods,  on  the  verge 
of  which  John  Cann's  Rocks  are  situated  R.,  will  be  reached.  With 
these  two  traditions  are  connected.  The  road  goes  on  to  Furseleigh 
Cross,  near  which  some  Roman  coins  were  found  in  1837.  This  point 
may  be  reached  from  Bovey  by  turning  into  Fursleigh  Lane  imme- 
diately opposite  to  Cross  Cottage.  The  rocks  are  less  than  i£  m. 
from  the  town. 

For  Bot  Tor,  or  Bottor  Rock,  the  visitor  will  follow  the  road  run- 
ing  E.  from  Fursleigh  Cross  to  Five  Lanes,  f  m.,  when  the  first  turning 
L.,  close  to  the  entrance  to  Hazelwood,  must  be  taken.  This  is  Beacon 
Lane,  and  it  will  lead  him  direct  to  the  rock,  which  will  be  seen  on  the 
L.  of  the  way.  From  this  fine  pile,  the  upper  mass  of  which  is  some- 
times referred  to  as  Bettor's  Nose,  a  wide  and  varied  view  is  presented. 
On  one  side  is  seen  the  valley  of  the  Teign,  and  Chudleigh,  with  the 
heights  beyond  ;  and  on  the  other  a  grand  view  of  the  hills  of  Dart- 
moor. The  rock  attains  an  elevation  of  800  feet,  being  about  700  feet 
above  Bovey  Bridge  near  the  Dolphin  Hotel.  Quite  close  to  Bot  Tor 
farmhouse,  just  below,  is  a  field  called  Brady  Park,  in  which  an 
interesting  object  once  existed.  It  consisted  of  a  small  pound,  77  feet 
in  diameter,  with  a  wall  about  3  feet  high  and  4  feet  thick.  The 
hollows  in  the  base  of  Bot  Tor  Rock  were  formerly  the  haunt  of  the 
pixies,  who  have  often  been  heard  singing  by  the  good  folks  of  Hennock 
when  making  their  way  homeward  late  at  night.  As  the  rambler  will 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood.  83 

probably  not  choose  such  a  time  for  his  visit  to  the  rock  it  is  unlikely 
that  he  will  be  so  favoured,  but  since  the  locality  does  not  lack  warblers 
of  another  kind  it  will  doubtless  be  to  the  accompaniment  of  sounds 
not  less  pleasant  that  he  will  continue  his  walk  to  that  village.  This 
he  will  do  by  passing  up  Beacon  Lane  for  a  short  distance,  and  entering 
a  gate  on  the  R.,  whence  a  path  will  lead  him  along  the  verge  of  a  little 
common  directly  to  it. 

Hennock  is  a  small  village  occupying  a  commanding  situation, 
being  only  about  200  feet  below  Bot  Tor.  Running  W.  from  Hennock 
is  a  road  known  as  Bell  Lane,  and  this  we  shall  follow  for  \  m.  to 
Chericombe  Head,  where  is  a  guide-post.  We  strike  into  Bowden 
Lane  S.,  and  shortly  afterwards  turning  L.  shall  pass  on  by  Lower 
Bowden  to  Furzeleigh  Cross.  Continuing  straight  down  the  hill  with 
Furzeleigh  Plantation  R.,  we  soon  reach  the  forks,  where  we  branch  R. 
to  Cross  Cottage,  or  L.  if  our  destination  be  that  part  of  Bovey  near 
the  church. 

S.  Ex.  72. — Shap  Tor  Rock,  4  m.  Passing  up  by  Cross  Cottage 
and  Atway,  we  branch  L.  at  the  first  forks,  and  speedily  reach  Woolley, 
where  we  bend  R.  to  the  first  milestone,  at  King's  Cross.  Then,  still 
following  the  Moreton  Road  R.,  for  about  200  yards  we  arrive  at  a 
point  where  a  road  runs  L-  to  Plumley,  and  a  footpath  R.  to  North- 
combe.  It  is  recorded  that  several  stone  circles  once  existed  at  Plum- 
ley,  but  they  were  destroyed  about  sixty  years  ago.  They  were 
in  all  probability  hut  circles,  and  during  the  work  of  demolition  eight 
bronze  celts  were  found,  four  of  them  being  piled  up  against  one  of  the 
stones  and  the  others  lying  near.  Following  the  footpath  to  North- 
combe,  we  shall  make  our  way  from  that  farm  by  another  path,  which 
runs  up  the  hill  through  Northcombe  Copse  to  Shap  Tor  Down,  which 
we  reach  immediately  below  the  rock.  The  view  from  this  is 
very  fine,  particularly  towards  Lustleigh.  In  returning  from  the 
down  we  may  follow  the  road  leading  from  its  S.E.  corner  to  Shap 
Tor  Farm,  and  thence  to  the  road  under  Higher  Bowden,  a  point 
reached  in  the  return  from  Hennock,  as  described  in  the  preceding 
excursion,  q.v.  Here  we  turn  R.  to  Furzeleigh  Cross. 

Shap  Tor  Rock  is  rather  over  i  m.  W.  by  N.  of  Bot  Tor,  and  the 
two  may  be  very  well  included  in  a  single  excursion.  From  Shap  Tor 
the  visitor  will  proceed  as  above,  but  when  he  reaches  the  road  under 
Higher  Bowden  will  turn  L.,  then  R.,  to  Chericombe  Head,  and 
then  make  his  way  through  Beacon  Lane  to  the  rock,  which  he  will 
see  R. 

S.  Ex.  73. — Lustleigh  and  the  Cleave,  via  Woolley  and  Ashwell 
Lane,  each  3^  m.  The  visitor  will  leave  the  town  as  in  the  preceding 
excursion,  but  on  reaching  Woolley  instead  of  turning  R.  will  keep 
straight  on  through  Ashwell  Lane, "which  will  lead  him  down  to  the 
railway.  On  crossing  this  he  will  find  that  the  road  forks,  the  L. 
branch  being  carried  over  the  Bovey  at  Wilford  Bridge  and  going  up 
to  the  road  under  Lower  Down  (Ex.  23),  the  R.  one  running  up  the 
valley  between  the  river  and  the  railway.  This  we  shall  follow,  and 
soon  after  shall  cross  the  latter  again.  About  this  point  we  have  on 
our  L.,  but  on  the  further  side  of  the  line,  the  confluence  of  the  Wray 
and  the  Bovey.  A  little  way  on  we  turn  L.,  and  once  more  crossing  the 
railway,  shall  reach  Packsaddle  Bridge,  where  we  pass  over  the  Wray 
and  immediately  turn  R.  From? this  point  we  proceed  as  in  Ex.  23, 


84  Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 

which  gives  directions  for  reaching  either  Lustleigh  Cleave  or  the 
village. 

(Visitors  from  Ilsington  and  the  vicinity  will  reach  this  po;nt  as  Jn 
Ex.  23). 

If  the  rambler  from  Bovey  is  making  his  way  to  Lustleigh  Station 
he  will  not  turn  L.  and  cross  the  line  to  Packsaddle  Bridge,  but  will  keep 
straight  on  past  Knowle,  and  under  Knowle  Wood,  to  Wrayland,  just 
beyond  which  a  road  L.  will  lead  him  directly  to  it. 

From  Lustleigh  several  of  the  rock-piles  on  the  high  land  eastward 
of  the  Wray  may  be  conveniently  visited.  By  crossing  the  railway  at 
the  bridge  near  the  station  and  taking  the  second  turning  L.  to  Wray- 
land Barn  he  will  find  a  footpath  that  will  lead  him  up  to  the  Moreton 
road  under  Tin  Copse.  It  crosses  the  road,  and  running  up  through 
the  copse,  skirts  Tinhill  Copse,  immediately  above  which  is  Bullaton 
Rock  (i  m.)  To  reach  Elsford  Rock  (i£  m.),  the  first  turning  L.  after 
crossing  the  Lustleigh  railway  bridge  must  be  followed.  This  will  lead 
the  rambler  to  Kelly  Cross,  where  is  a  guide-post  (R.  31,  46),  and  here 
he  will  turn  L.  Proceeding  for  a  few  score  yards  he  will  enter  a  lane  R., 
and  passing  up  through  Greathill  Copse,  will  soon  reach  Elsford  Cot- 
tages. Beyond  these  is  Elsford  Farm,  and  the  road  running  from 
Hennock  via  Poolmill  Cross  to  Pepperdon  Down.  Elsford  Rock  is  a 
short  distance  W.  of  the  farm.  Between  Elsford  Farm  and  Pepperdon 
Down  a  road  runs  R.,  i.e.,  N.  by  E.,  to  Moor  Barton.  On  this  farm 
several  interesting  objects  were  discovered  many  years  ago  in  a  large 
cairn.  On  the  tumulus  being  opened  a  kistvaen  formed  of  six  stones 
was  exposed  ;  there  was  also  a  copper  spear  head  with  two  pegs  by 
which  it  has  been  secured  to  its  staff,  a  glass  bead,  and  a  small  amulet 
of  stone. 

The  road  running  S.E.  from  Kelly  Cross  goes  on  to  Slade  Cross, 
J  m.,  as  described  in  R.  31,  from  which  point  Shap  Tor  Rock  is  about 
J  m.  distant,  E.  by  S.,  but  there  is  no  direct  path  to  it.  A  road  goes 
N.E.  from  Slade  Cross  to  Poolmill  Cross,  £  m.,  where  the  road  to  Hen- 
nock,  2  m.,  runs  R. 

S.  Ex.  74. — Sanduck  and  around  the  Combe  (from  Lustleigh),  4%  m. 
The  Bishop's  Stone  near  Lustleigh  Station  has  already  been  noticed 
(Ex.  23),  and  the  probability  of  its  having  once  served  as  the  base  of 
a  cross  remarked  upon.  In  addition  to  this  there  are  three  other 
stone  crosses  in  the  parish  [Crosses,  Chap.  XV.],  and  these  the  visitor 
may  see  on  a  walk  round  the  combe  that  runs  up  towards  Sanduck 
Grove.  (The  routes  to  Lustleigh  from  Bovey,  Lud  Gate,  and  Ilsington, 
have  already  been  given).  Leaving  the  village  by  the  school  we  pass 
up  by  Mapstone  and  South  Hill  towards  Higher  Combe,  i  m.,  and 
immediately  before  reaching  the  road  leading  to  it  L.,  in  a  small  field 
on  the  R.  called  Cross  Park,  is  one  of  the  objects  referred  to.  It  consists 
of  the  upper  part  of  a  granite  cross,  and  this  is  fixed  on  a  rock.  Passing 
Higher  Combe  Cross  (i.e.,  the  branch  road)  L.  and  proceeding  on  our 
way  for  about  a  mile  we  reach  Sanduck,  where  the  road  bends  L. 
Here  on  the  R.  is  another  cross,  which  was  discovered  in  1901  in  the 
foundations  of  a  farmhouse  burned  down  in  that  year,  and  soon  after 
passing  this  we  turn  L.,  or  southward.  (About  \  m.  to  the  west  is 
Barnecourt,  which  Risdon  speaks  of  as  Barn  House  Barton,  "  the 
ancient  possession  of  a  race  of  gentlemen  so  called.")  Very  soon  we 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood.  85 

pass  North  Harton  R.,  and  then  the  road  forks.  Here  we  take  the  R. 
branch,  and  skirt  the  combe  on  the  opposite  side  of  which  we  made 
our  way  upward  from  the  village.  Less  than  |  m.  from  the  fork  a 
private  road  branches  R.  to  South  Harton  (Ex.  23),  and  here  we  shall 
find  a  cross  built  into  the  wall.  It  had  been  split  to  form  a  pair  of 
gateposts,  but  the  parts  were  fitted  together  and  it  was  placed  here  for 
preservation.  Still  following  the  road  we  pass  Hammerslake,  and  J  m. 
beyond  turn  L.  to  Ellimore,  and  descend  to  Lustleigh  by  the  path  by 
which  we  left  it  on  setting  out  for  the  cleave  (Ex.  23). 

S.  Ex.  75. — Lustleigh  Cleave  from  Hisley  Wood  upward  (from 
Lustleigh),  5  m.  (Visitors  from  Bovey  may  reach  the  lower  end  of  the 
cleave  as  in  Ex.  23  or  S.  Ex.  73,  making  their  way  first  to  the  road 
between  New  Bridge  and  Packsaddle  Bridge  (2^  m.)  as  therein  directed. 
The  point  for  which  visitors  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Ilsington  will  first 
make  is  a  footbridge  on  the  Becky  a  short  distance  above  its  confluence 
with  the  Bovey.  This  they  may  reach  either  by  way  of  Yarner  Wells, 
as  described  in  S.  Ex.  78,  or  by  Riddiford  Down.  In  the  latter  case 
they  will  follow  the  instructions  given  in  Ex.  23,  but  on  reaching  the 
guide-post  at  the  bottom  of  the  slope  under  Yarner  Wood  will  make 
their  way  along  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive  N.W.  for  a  short  distance, 
and  then  leave  it  for  the  track  that  runs  straight  on  down  the  hill  to 
the  bridge.  On  crossing  the  Becky  a  path  will  lead  them  round  Riddy 
Hill  to  the  Bovey,  and  upward  to  the  footbridge  under  Wanford  Wood. 
This  point  in  2  m.  from  Yarner  Wells). 

Leaving  Lustleigh  at  its  southern  end  we  shall  make  our  way  past 
Rudge  to  the  cross  road  reached  in  Ex.  23  between  New  Bridge  and  the 
down,  where  we  continue  straight  on  to  Lower  Hisley.  Higher  Hisley 
is  close  by  on  the  R.,  and  a  short  distance  in  advance  are  Gradner 
Rocks,  on  the  edge  of  Hisley  Wood,  which  the  rambler  may  visit,  as 
this  will  only  necessitate  his  retracing  his  steps  a  little  way.  Prom 
Lower  Hisley  a  lane  branches  W.  to  Boveycombe,  and  this  we  shall 
now  follow  past  that  cottage  to  the  common.  We  are  here  quite  near 
to  the  Bovey  at  the  lower  end  of  the  down,  and  shall  follow  the  river 
upward  to  its  higher  end.  Passing  Hisley  Wood  we  have  on  the  L., 
but  on  the  further  bank  of  the  river,  and  consequently  in  the  parish 
of  Manaton,  as  the  latter  here  forms  the  boundary  of  Lustleigh,  Wood- 
ash,  some  of  the  trees  of  which  cover  the  lower  slope  of  the  down  on 
this  side  as  well.  Above  these  is  a  footbridge,  where  a  path  coming 
down  from  near  Hammerslake  crosses  the  stream  and  climbs  the  hill 
to  the  hamlet  of  Water,  a  little  over  ^  m.  from  Manaton.  On  the 
R.,  and  high  above  us,  is  Sharp  Tor.  Passing  up  stream  we  skirt 
Wanford  Wood,  to  which  succeeds  Water  Cleave,  where  is  another 
footbridge,  just  below  the  Foxes'  Yard  R.  Still  further  up  the  stream 
is  Horsham  Cleave,  with  the  curious  Horsham  Steps,  described  in  Ex.  23, 
at  the  foot  of  the  wooded  steep.  Above  this  is  Neadon  Cleave,  between 
the  woods  of  which  and  the  grove  at  Foxworthy  the  Bovey  comes  down 
from  Foxworthy  Bridge.  This  and  Little  Silver,  close  by,  are  noticed 
in  the  excursion  just  named,  and  if  we  make  our  way  to  those  objects 
we  may  regain  the  common  by  the  road  just  above  Foxworthy  Farm. 
If  we  do  not  turn  aside  we  leave  the  Bovey  just  above  the  steps,  and 
passing  Ravens'  Tor  on  the  slope  shall  strike  northward,  with  the  rocks 
sometimes  called  Foxworthy  Tor  L.,  to  Hunters'  Tor,  barely  £  m. 


86  Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 

distant.  Having  examined  this,  and  the  camp  close  by,  to  which 
Hunters'  Path  leads,  we  return  by  way  of  the  summit  of  the  ridge, 
keeping  quite  near  to  the  enclosures  L.  Soon  we  pass  the  fine  entrance 
to  South  Harton,  where  is  a  small  plantation,  and  still  keeping  the  wall 
of  the  enclosed  lands  L.  shall  make  our  way  by  Harton  Chest  R.  to 
Sharp  Tor  (Ex.  23).  Here  we  are  near  Hammerslake,  which  we  passed 
on  our  way  from  the  stone  cross  at  the  gate  of  the  private  road  to 
South  Harton  to  Ellimore  (S.  Ex.  74).  Leaving  Sharp  Tor  we  make 
for  a  corner  of  the  down  below  it  to  the  N.E.,  where  a  short  lane  will 
take  us  to  the  road,  where  we  turn  R.  and  then  L.  to  Ellimore,  and 
descend  to  Lustleigh  (S.  Ex.  74,  Ex.  23). 

S.  Ex.  76. — Manaton  via  Pethybridge,  Wanford  Wood,  and  Water 
(from  Lustleigh),  5  m.  The  route  to  Manaton  by  way  of  Poxworthy 
Bridge  has  been  sketched  in  Ex.  23,  but  there  are  more  direct  ways  of 
reaching  that  village.  The  visitor  may  cross  the  Bovey  at  Horsham 
Steps  and  pass  through  Horsham  Farm,  or  he  may  cross  at  the  foot- 
bridge under  the  Foxes'  Yard,  and  follow  the  path  up  through  the  wood 
either  to  the  same  farm  R.,  or  to  Water  L.  But  the  most  direct  route 
is  by  way  of  the  footbridge  under  Wanford  Wood,  and  this  he  may 
reach  by  going  through  Ellimore  as  in  Ex.  23,  and  taking  the  L.  path 
on  the  S.  side  of  Sharp  Tor,  which  will  lead  him  straight  down  the  hill 
to  it,  or  he  may  gain  the  same  point  by  way  of  Pethybridge.  If  he 
decide  upon  the  latter  he  will  follow  the  lane  to  Ellimore  for  about  a 
couple  of  hundred  yards  and  then  turn  into  a  path  L.,  which  will  lead 
him  through  the  wood  to  the  farm  named.  Just  beyond  this  he  will 
enter  on  a  road,  and  turning  R.  will  keep  straight  on  to  the  common. 
(He  is  now  at  the  point  where  he  enters  it  in  Ex.  23,  if  going  direct  to 
the  Cleave  from  New  Bridge).  The  path  across  the  down  is  now 
followed  to  the  bridge,  £  m.  distant,  and  immediately  above  the  trees 
that  are  seen  at  the  foot  of  the  down  a  little  in  advance  (S.  Ex.  75). 
Crossing  this  the  rambler  will  have  the  guidance  of  a  path  up  the  tree 
covered  steep,  Woodash  being  L.  and  Wanford  R.,  and  this  will  bring 
him  to  a  narrow  lane  that  wfil  lead  him  to  the  hamlet  of  Water,  £  m. 
from  Manaton. 

The  return  routes  to  Lustleigh  are  here  briefly  sketched.  Via 
Foxworthy  Bridge.  Leaving  the  village  green  near  its  northern  end 
we  follow  the  road  for  a  short  distance  and  take  the  second  turning  R. 
This  will  lead  to  a  footpath  running  across  some  fields,  and  down 
through  a  wood,  where  it  is  rather  steep  in  places,  to  the  Bovey,  close 
to  Little  Silver,  L.  (Ex.  23).  Cross  Foxworthy  Bridge  and  turn  R.  to 
Foxworthy  Mill,  just  beyond  which  is  a  green  path  leading  up  the  side 
of  Lustleigh  Cleave  to  Sharp  Tor  (S.  Ex.  75).  Via  Horsham  Steps. 
Leave  the  village  as  before,  but  take  the  first  turning  R.  to  Horsham 
Farm.  From  there  a  path  runs  down  through  the  wood  to  the  steps, 
and  is  continued  on  the  further  side  of  the  Bovey  up  the  side  of  the 
down  to  Sharp  Tor  (S.  Ex.  75).  Via  Footbridge  below  the  Foxes'  Yard. 
To  Horsham  Farm  as  in  the  preceding  ;  thence  by  the  lane  to  Letchole 
Plantation,  and  down  by  the  narrow  path  through  Water  Cleave  to 
the  bridge.  The  path  then  runs  up  the  hill,  with  the  Foxes'  Yard  L., 
to  Sharp  Tor  (S.  Ex.  75).  To  reach  this  bridge  by  way  of  Water  the 
visitor  will  leave  Manaton  at  the  southern  end  of  the  green,  where  he 
will  turn  L.  by  Town  Barton,  again  branching  L.  at  Wrayland  to  the 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood.  87 

hamlet,  close  to  which  is  the  plantation  named  above.  Via  Footbridge 
below  Wanford  Wood.  To  Water  as  above.  Then,  instead  of  taking 
the  path  through  Letchole  Plantation,  follow  the  lane  down  the  hill 
to  Wanford  Wood,  through  which,  with  Woodash  R.,  the  footpath 
alluded  to  in  the  route  just  given  from  Lustleigh  descends  to  the  Bovey. 
On  crossing  that  stream  pass  up  the  hill,  and  at  the  first  forks  of  the 
green  path  take  the  R.  branch  and  follow  it  to  the  road  branching 
from,  the  upper  corner  of  the  down.  Take  the  second  turning  L.  (only 
about  300  yards  on)  to  Pethybridge,  from  which  farm  a  path  leads  to 
Lustleigh  as  before  described. 

S.  Ex.  77. — Manaton  to  North  Bovey,  2  m.  distant  ;  and  Lustleigh 
to  North  Bovey,  3f-  m.  distant.  The  reverse  route  (to  Manaton)  has 
already  been  given  (S.  Ex.  63).  We  leave  the  village  near  the  northern 
end  of  the  green,  the  rectory  grounds  being  L.  Soon  after  passing  the 
second  turning  R.,  which  leads  down  to  Foxworthy  Bridge,  we  reach 
a  turning  L.,  where  a  path  runs  across  a  little  common  below  Manaton 
Rocks.  We  keep  near  to  the  enclosures  R.,  and  presently  shall  be 
led  between  these  to  a  field,  across  which  the  path  runs  to  the  road  at 
Langstone  (R.  32,  53).  This  point  may  also  be  reached  by  following 
the  path  along  the  S.  side  of  the  churchyard  to  a  road  which  will  bring 
us  to  Langstone  Cross  (R.  32,  53),  where  we  turn  R. 

From  Langstone  we  proceed  by  the  road  to  Lower  Luckdon,  to 
which  place  we  may  also  make  our  way  by  another  route.  This, 
which  will  increase  the  distance  a  little,  will  take  us  down  the  hill  from 
Manaton  (instead  of  turning  L.  to  the  little  common),  near  the  bottom 
of  which  a  lane  runs  R.  to  Little  Silver  and  Foxworthy  Bridge  (Ex.  23), 
but  we  turn  L.  to  Neadon.  Here,  on  the  L.  of  the  way,  we  pass  an 
ancient  building  now  belonging  to  the  farm,  but  which  is  said  to  have 
formerly  been  a  chapel.  On  passing  this  we  strike  a  road  running 
R.  to  Barnecourt  (S.  Ex.  74)  and  Wray  Barton,  the  latter  being  on 
the  road  from  Bovey  to  Moreton  (R.  31,  46).  We  turn  neither  R.  nor 
L.,  but  crossing  the  road  enter  on  a  path  that  will  take  us  across  three 
fields  to  Lower  Luckdon.  From  this  place  we  keep  straight  on,  with 
Higher  Luckdon  L.  (R.  32,  53)  to  Aller,  soon  after  passing  which  we 
cross  the  Bovey,  and  reach  our  destination. 

Lustleigh  to  North  Bovey  via  Little  Silver,  3f  m.  distant.  This  is  a 
most  delightful  ramble.  The  visitor  will  make  his  way  by  Ellimore  to 
Sharp  Tor,  and  thence  down  the  side  of  the  cleave  to  Foxworthy 
Bridge,  as  described  in  Ex.  23.  Crossing  the  bridge  he  will  turn  R. 
by  the  charming  Little  Silver,  whence  a  walk  of  about  %  m.  along  the 
edge  of  the  wood  will  bring  him  to  the  road  leading  to  Neadon,  just 
where  it  comes  down  L.  from  Manaton.  From  this  point  the  directions 
are  given  above. 

In  returning  to  Lustleigh  the  path  from  North  Bovey  past  Neadon, 
as  described  in  S.  Ex.  63,  must  be  followed,  when  the  rambler,  instead 
of  turning  up  the  hill  R.  to  Manaton,  will  keep  onward  to  Little  Silver, 
from  which  point  the  way  over  the  down  to  Sharp  Tor  and  Ellimore  is 
shown  in  S.  Ex.  76,  75. 

S.  Ex.  78. — Round  Yarner  Wood.  Bovey  Station,  7^  m.  ;  Lud 
Gate,  s£  m.  ;  Ilsington,  6f  m.  A  ramble  round  Yarner  Wood  and 
over  Trendlebere  Down,  besides  disclosing  many  other  beauties,  will 


88  Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 

also  afford  a  fine  view  of  Lustleigh  Cleave.  In  setting  out  from  Bovey 
the  road  to  the  moor  will  be  followed  as  in  Ex.  23.  On  leaving  the 
railway  the  visitor  first  passes  Parke,  where  in  the  early  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century  lived  the  noted  George  Hunt  Clapp,  better  known  as 
"  Councillor "  Clapp.  We  remember  hearing  many  stories  in  our 
younger  days  of  the  strange  sights  said  to  have  been  witnessed  in 
the  grounds  on  moonlight  nights.  Horses  without  heads,  the  gossips 
said,  used  to  haunt  Parke  Walk,  and  startling  sounds  were  heard  there 
by  the  frightened  peasant.  Continuing  on  our  way  upward  we  shall 
shortly  pass  Five  Wyches  Cross  (Ex.  23),  and  Lower  Down  Cross 
(Ex.  24),  where  the  Hey  Tor  tramroad,  noticed  in  Ex.  25,  crossed  the 
road.  On  our  L.  is  Colehays  Plantation,  which  extends  up  the  hill 
for  about  a  mile,  and  soon  after  passing  the  head  of  this  we  enter 
upon  the  moor.  Here  we  turn  R.  as  in  Ex.  25,  our  way  lying  along 
the  higher  side  of  Yarner,  which  we  have  already  referred  to  as  being 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Justice  Eve.  The  judge  is  a  lover  of  Dartmoor, 
and  his  great  hobby  is  "  caravaning  "  upon  it.  When  on  one  of  his 
tours  amid  its  hills  he  lives  and  sleeps  in  the  van,  and  does  his  own 
cooking.  No  better  way  of  seeing  the  moor  can  be  imagined,  provided 
it  is  combined  with  bog-trotting. 

Having  reached  Yarner  Wells,  to  which  point  visitors  around 
Ilsington  will  make  their  way  as  described  in  Ex.  25,  we  shall  turn 
down  the  hill  R.,  gradually  leaving  Yarner  Wood  as  we  descend. 
Here  we  have  a  good  view  of  Lustleigh  Cleave,  beyond  the  wooded 
Hound  Tor  Ridge.  Our  way  takes  us  over  East  Down,  which  extends 
to  the  Becky,  Trendlebere  Down  being  on  our  R.  under  Yarner  Wood. 
On  reaching  the  stream,  which  we  should  do  not  far  from  the  camp  on 
Water  Hill  (Ex.  23),  marked  by  Water  Rock,  we  turn  R.,  and  trace  its 
course  downward.  On  the  further  bank  is  Hound  Tor  Wood,  the 
peninsulated  ridge  which  it  covers  terminating  in  the  heathery  Riddy 
Hill.  At  the  foot  of  this  the  Becky  falls  into  the  Bovey,  the  scene  of 
their  meeting  being  of  the  most  romantic  character.  Just  above  it, 
on  the  further  bank,  are  Gradner  Rocks  (S.  Ex.  75)  rising  on  the  higher 
edge  of  Hisley  Wood.  Below  this  the  united  stream  makes  a  bend 
and  then  flows  on  between  Rudge  Wood  L.,  and  Pullabrook  Wood  R., 
to  its  confluence  with  the  Wray.  Our  path  will  take  us  past  the  weir 
to  the  verge  of  the  last-named  wood,  and  here  we  shall  find  ourselves 
on  Reddiford  Down,  and  just  below  the  northern  edge  of  Yarner 
Wood.  This  wood,  as  we  have  already  seen,  is  situated  on  the  side 
of  a  steep  hill,  and  is  in  view  from  the  railway  between  Bovey  and 
Lustleigh.  It  is  about  i£  m.  from  E.  to  W.,  and  J  m.  from  N.  to  S. 
Yarner  Copper  Mine,  now  disused,  is  near  its  S.E.  corner,  and  the 
grounds  of  Yarner  are  on  its  southern,  or  higher,  side.  One  elevated 
point  in  it  is  known  as  Yarner  Beacon.  Following  the  road  over 
Reddiford  Down  we  shall  soon  reach  the  guide-post,  and  here  the 
visitor  who  is  returning  to  Bovey  will  continue  onward  to  the  forks, 
-where  he  will  either  branch  L.  to  Five  Wyches  Cross,  or  keep  straight 
on  along  the  edge  of  Lower  Down,  which  is  really  a  part  of  Reddiford 
Down,  to  Lower  Down  Cross,  from  either  of  which  points  he  will  turn 
L.  down  the  hill  (R.  25).  If  bound  for  Ilsington  or  neighbourhood  the 
visitor  will  strike  into  a  footpath  at  the  guide-post  running  up  over 
the  down,  which  will  bring  him  to  the  road  near  the  higher  end  of 
Colehays  Plantation.  Passing  the  forks  where  a  road  branches  R.  to 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood.  89 

Yarner,  he  will  soon  enter  on  the  moor,  and  on  reaching  the  guide- 
post  the  road  L.  must  be  taken  for  Ilsington.  (In  following  this  take 
either  the  first  turning  R.,  for  Trumpeter  and  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel,  or  the 
second  R.  at  Narrowcombe  for  the  village).  For  Lud  Gate  and  the 
Mocrland  Hotel  keep  straight  on  with  the  common  R. 

S.  Ex.  79. — Becky  Fall  and  Manaton  ;  branch  road  to  Leighon. 
Bovey  Station  (to  Fall  and  back),  9  m.  ;  Lud  Gate,  5  m.  ;  Ilsington, 
7£  m.  ;  Manaton,  i  m.  beyond  the  Becky.  From  Bovey  the  road  to 
Lower  Down  Cross  is  followed  as  in  Ex.  24  and  R.  45.  There  turn  R. 
into  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive,  which,  passing  under  Yarner  Wood, 
leads  direct  to  New  Bridge,  about  £  m.  above  the  fall  (Ex.  23).  From 
Hey  Tor  Vale  visitors  simply  follow  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive  to  Becky- 
ford  Bridge,  which  is  only  a  short  distance  above  New  Bridge  (Becky), 
while  those  from  Ilsington,  if  not  proceeding  via  Lud  Gate,  will  follow 
the  instructions  given  in  Ex.  25,  and  reaching  the  down  either  by  way 
of  Trumpetor  or  Narrowcombe,  will  strike  over  it  and  join  the  drive 
at  Yarner  Wells.  The  Manaton  road  runs  up  the  hill  from  the  bridges 
over  the  Becky  to  the  cross  road  between  Water  R.  and  Deal  L.,  and 
passing  Wrayland  enters  the  village  by  Town  Barton  (vide  Ex.  23). 
The  name  of  the  little  river  appears  not  only  in  the  fall  and  the  higher 
bridge,  but  also  in  Beckyford  Farm,  Becky  Cottage,  and  in  Beckhams, 
the  latter  being  on  the  edge  of  Deal  Copse,  in  which  the  fall  is  situated. 
Visitors  will  find  the  walk  to  Becky  Fall  by  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive, 
making  the  return  by  the  Lower  Drive,  or  vice  versa,  a  very  enjoyable 
one.  A  return  route  is  given  in  Ex.  23. 

Leighon  Bridge.  About  |  m.  N.  of  Yarner  Wells  a  road  branches 
westward  from  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive,  under  Black  Hill,  and  leads 
down  through  Leighon  to  the  Becky,  which  it  crosses  at  Leighon  Bridge 
(R.  45).  This,  which  is  a  clapper  of  one  opening  and  furnished  with 
parapets,  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  charming  surroundings.  Just 
below  it  the  road  turns  L.  to  Hound  Tor  Down  (Ex.  24),  and  by  follow- 
ing this  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  turning  R.  at  Great  Hound  Tor 
Farm,  the  rambler  will  be  led  past  Southcott  to  Hayne  Cross,  from 
which  point  the  return  route  by  way  of  Becky  Fall  is  given  in  Ex.  23. 
The  homeward  route  direct  from  Leighon  Bridge  will  be  found  at  the 
end  of  R.  25.  The  bridge  is  about  ij  m.  from  Yarner  Wells  by  the 
road. 

S.  Ex.  80. — Hey  Tor,  Pinchaford  Ball,  and  Hey  Tor  Vale.  Bovey 
Station,  9  m.  ;  Lud  Gate,  2^  m.  ;  Ilsington,  over  Pinchaford  Ball 
3|  m.  Hey  Tor  is  3f  m.  from  Bovey  Station,  and  is  approached 
by  the  road  described  'in  Ex.  25  and  S.  Ex.  78,  the  points  being 
Five  Wyches  Cross  (take  the  L.  fork)  ;  Lower  Down  Cross  (straight 
up  the  hill,  leaving  the  road  running  by  the  school  R.)  ;  the  forks 
nearly  i  m.  further  up  the  hill  (take  the  L.  branch,  and  the  down 
will  be  reached  rather  over  £  m.  on).  The  road  now  skirts  this  with 
the  enclosures  close  on  the  L.,  and  passing  Shot  Plantation,  also  on 
that  side,  reaches  the  turning  L.  to  Hey  Tor  Vale.  Here,  at  the  Moor- 
land Hotel,  the  Dartmoor  coaches  always  stop  to  afford  those  who  may 
desire  to  visit  the  tor  an  opportunity  of  doing  so.  A  broad  green  path 
leads  to  the  rocks  from  the  road  close  to  the  hotel. 

Visitors  from  Ilsington  will  reach  this  point  by  turning  R.  at  the 


90  Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 

cross  \  m.  W.  of  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel,  and  passing  up  the  hill,  and  taking 
the  I/,  branch  of  the  road  at  the  forks  above  Pinchaford.  (The  R. 
branch  also  leads  to  it,  by  way  of  Hey  Tor  Vale).  But  a  much 
shorter  way  to  Hey  Tor  is  to  keep  straight  on  instead  of  turning  up  the 
hill  R.  at  the  cross  referred  to,  when  a  walk  of  a  few  hundred  yards 
through  a  narrow  stroll  will  bring  the  visitor  to  the  common.  From 
this  point  Hey  Tor  is  only  £  m.  distant,  W.N.W. 

For  a  description  of  the  tor  the  visitor  is  referred  to  Ex.  25. 

Descending  the  southern  slope  of  the  hill  on  which  Hey  Tor  is 
situated,  the  road  is  speedily  reached  just  where  it  makes  a  bend,  and 
here  a  track  runs  from  it  southward  (T.  49).  This  the  rambler  may 
follow  to  Bag  Tor,  the  route  being  the  reverse  of  that  sketched  in 
Ex.  25,  but  should  he  not  wish  to  extend  his  walk  that  far  he  will  see 
it  as  he  crosses  Pinchaford  Ball.  This  he  will  do  by  leaving  the  track 
near  some  hut  circles  R.,  about  J  m.  from  the  road,  and  striking  eastward. 
Below  him  R.,  in  the  little  valley  of  the  Sig,  and  near  the  boggy  spot 
called  Bag  Tor  Mires,  is  the  tor.  He  also  looks  down  upon  Mill  Wood, 
one  part  of  which  is  known  as  Crownley  Parks,  and  upon  Hinds  Ground 
near  it.  Descending  the  eastern  side  of  the  ball  he  enters  the  narrow 
stroll  below  Pinchaford  Farm  mentioned  ante.  From  this  point  the 
Ilsington  road  turns  down  R.,  while  a  footpath  L.  will  lead  to  the 
Pinchaford  lane,  which  comes  from  the  road  running  up  to  the  common. 
Just  above  this  is  the  junction  before  referred  to,  and  if  the  visitor  chooses 
to  bear  R.  he  will  pass  through  Hey  Tor  Vale,  as  we  have  already 
stated.  When  the  Hey  Tor  quarries  ceased  to  be  worked  the  season 
of  prosperity  enjoyed  by  this  little  hamlet  came  to  an  end.  But  of 
late  there  has  been  some  renewal  of  this,  though  not,  as  formerly  in 
consequence  of  stone  being  sent  away  from  the  neighbourhood,  but 
because  of  the  fact  that  it  is  there.  The  Rock  Hotel  at  Hey  Tor  Vale 
bears  a  name  that  will  constantly  remind  the  visitor  of  this.  The 
down  is  within  £  m.  of  the  hamlet. 

S.  Ex.  81. — Ilsington.  (T.\  m.  distant  from  Bovey  Tracey  Station  ; 
with  route  to  Ashburton,  5^  m.  further).  Occupying  an  elevated  and 
pleasant  situation  on  the  border  of  the  moor,  and  placed  in  the  midst  of 
delightful  scenery,  the  village  of  Ilsington  has  naturally  grown  into 
favour  with  the  visitor,  and  since  the  opening  of  the  Hey  Tor  Hotel  has 
become  a  much  frequented  summer  resort.  From  Bovey  Tracey  Station 
the  rambler  will  make  his  way  towards  the  town,  having  Pludda  on 
his  R.,  but  only  for  a  short  distance.  Immediately  opposite  to  the 
Dolphin  Hotel  the  Newton  Abbot  road  runs  S.,  and  into  this  he  will 
turn.  Passing  the  first  branch,  a  few  score  yards  on  R.,  he  will  strike 
into  the  second  on  that  side,  and  will  very  soon  reach  Ashburton 
Bridge,  where  the  road  is  carried  over  the  railway.  Just  beyond  this 
it  forks,  and  here  he  will  take  the  R.  branch  and  keep  straight  on. 
The  turning  R.  leads  to  Challabrook,  and  near  this  the  Hey  Tor  tram- 
road  (Ex.  25)  crossed  the  road.  The  next  junction  is  known  as  Brimley 
Corner,  where  again  the  R.  branch  must  be  followed  past  Chapel  Cross, 
which  is  marked  by  a  guide-post,  and  where  a  road  comes  down  from 
Chapel  Farm  and  Lower  Down  Cross  (Ex.  24).  William  Ellis,  who 
several  years  ago  wrote  an  interesting  account  of  various  places  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Bovey,  says  that  the  farm  obtained  its  name 
from  the  former  existence  of  a  chapel  here.  He  states  that  all 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood.  91 

traces  of  the  building  had  been  lost,  but  that  during  the  formation 
of  a  leat  some  stones  were  found  that  were  thought  to  have  belonged 
to  it.  The  chapel  stood  in  a  lovely  little  dell  through  which  ran  a 
sparkling  stream.  Passing  upward  through  Brimley  Lane  the  rambler 
will  speedily  arrive  at  Lower  Brimley,  beyond  which  he  will  pass 
through  Higher  Brimley,  and  reach  Woodhouse  Cross,  where  is  a 
guide-post.  Here  a  road  comes  down  R.  from  Narrowcombe  and  the 
common,  and  descends  the  hill  towards  the  Newton  Abbot  road.  The 
rambler  will  turn  neither  R.  nor  L.,  but  continue  onward,  passing 
Woodhouse  R.,  to  the  village. 

The  village  of  Ilsington  is  small,  and  like  Widecombe,  Manaton, 
Shaugh,  and  others  in  the  Dartmoor  borderland,  was  once  the  scene 
of  a  remarkable  accident,  not,  however,  resulting  from  the  warring  of 
the  elements,  but  from  the  banging  of  a  gate  !  On  the  i  7th  September, 
1639,  the  day  being  Tuesday,  a  woman  passed  through  the  west  gate 
of  the  churchyard,  over  which  was  an  old  building  that  had  not  long 
before  been  converted  into  a  schoolroom,  and  in  which  a  number  of 
scholars  were  gathered.  The  gate  was  a  heavy  one,  and  the  woman, 
letting  it  swing  back  to  close  of  itself,  went  on  her  way.  She  had  not 
gone  half-a-dozen  yards  before  the  building  collapsed,  but  strange  to 
relate  not  only  were  no  lives  lost,  but  the  injuries  sustained  were  mostly 
trifling.  An  account  of  the  accident  may  be  seen  hi  the  register,  to- 
gether with  the  names  of  those  who  were  in  the  room  at  the  tune. 

The  church  is  chiefly  Perpendicular.  In  the  churchyard  is  the 
seventeenth  century  tomb  of  Thomas  Ford,  of  Sigford,  on  which  is  a 
curious  Latin  chronogram,  giving  the  date  of  his  death.  The  Fords 
were  settled  very  early  in  the  parish,  one  of  that  family  being  John 
Ford,  the  dramatist,  and  the  friend  and  acquaintance  of  most  of  the 
poets  of  his  day. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century  Bag  Tor  was  in  the 
possession  of  Sir  Henry  Ford,  who  was  knighted  by  Charles  II.,  in  whose 
reign  he  was  twice  Secretary  of  State  hi  Ireland.  The  property  was 
sold  by  him  to  Mr.  Tothill,  from  whose  descendants  it  was  afterwards 
purchased  by  John,  first  Lord  Ashburton.  East  of  the  church,  and 
on  the  R.  of  the  road  leading  up  to  Narrowcombe,  are  some  vestiges 
of  a  manor  house  built  by  Sir  Henry,  but  which,  it  is  said,  was  never 
completed.  On  a  part  of  the  site  of  this  the  present  school  is  built. 
The  manor  of  Ilsington  was  early  in  the  possession  of  the  Beaumonts, 
and  afterwards  belonged  to  the  Dinhams.  At  the  death,  hi  1477,  of 
John,  Lord  Dynham,  it  was  divided  among  his  representatives,  and 
portions  of  it  passing  through  the  Arundefis  afterwards  became  the 
property  of  the  Fords.  The  Act  for  enclosing  Ilsington  Common  was 
obtained  in  1809. 

According  to  Vicars  the  Royalist  soldiers  after  their  defeat  at 
Bovey,  in  January,  1646,  retreated  to  Ilsington,  and  sought  refuge 
in  the  church.  They  were,  however,  pursued  by  Cromwell,  and  were 
forced  to  quit  the  building. 

Natives  of  this  parish  were  formerly  known  as  Ilsington  Grey- 
backs.  In  1727  William  Candy  left  some  lands  to  trustees,  with 
directions  that  the  rents  should  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  clothes 
for  men  who  had  served  their  apprenticeship  to  farmers  hi  the  parish. 
The  clothes  were  made  of  a  cloth  known  as  Parson's  Grey,  the  shirt 
being  of  a  rough  material  called  Dowlais,  and  so  the  name  of  Greyback 


92  Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 

became  attached  to  an  Ilsington  man.  A  copy  of  Mr.  Candy's  will 
hangs  in  Ilsington  Church.  In  1663  Miss  Jane  Ford,  of  Bag  Tor.  left 
property  to  be  invested  for  the  purpose  of  schooling  poor  children, 
and  in  1804  Mr.  Hale,  of  lingsdon,  left  money  for  the  benefit  of  the 
aged  poor. 

Bag  Tor  is  i£  m.  from  Ilsington,  and  is  situated  on  the  road  run- 
ning to  Ashburton  via  Halshanger  Cross.  From  the  church  the  way 
lies  past  the  vicarage  and  the  hotel  to  Loothorn  Cross,  where  the  L., 
or  S.,  road  is  followed  to  the  Wesleyan  burial  ground,  which  point  may 
also  be  reached  by  the  lower  road  from  the  village.  This  must  be  kept 
L.,  and  also  Honeywell,  which  is  passed  immediately  after.  The  next 
point  is  Burchanger  Cross,  where  the  Bag  Tor  road  runs  straight  on, 
and  then  winds  round  a  little  piece  of  common  below  Burchanger 
Brake,  a  wood  being  on  the  other  side  of  it.  Very  speedily  it  drops 
down  to  the  Lemon,  which  it  crosses  in  one  of  the  most  delightful 
nooks  on  the  borders  of  Dartmoor.  [Gems,  Chap.  XI.]  Immediately 
below  the  bridge  is  the  picturesque  Bag  Tor  Mill,  and  above  it  the 
little  river  comes  down  through  a  wooded  hollow  from  the  moor.  (A 
path  running  through  Crownley  Parks  will  lead  the  rambler  thither, 
and  he  will  reach  it  below  Pinchaford  Ball,  with  Bag  Tor  L.  S.  Ex.  80). 
£  m.  further  on,  where  a  road  branches  L.  to  Sigford,  is  the  entrance 
to  Bag  Tor  R.,  which  is  pleasantly  placed  on  the  edge  of  Bag  Tor 
Wood.  This  point  is  also  reached  in  our  rambles  from  Ashburton,  q.v. 
The  road  to  that  town  runs  on  to  Westabrook,  where  it  crosses  the  Sig, 
and  thence  to  the  hamlet  of  Mountsland,  just  beyond  which  it  is 
carried  over  the  Langworthy  Brook.  Then  passing  Halshanger  R., 
it  reaches  Halshanger  Cross,  where  the  Newton  Abbot  road  comes  up 
L.,  or  from  the  E.,  and  goes  on  by  Cold  East  Cross  to  Pudsham  Down 
and  Cockingford  Mill,  and  from  there  over  Bittleford  Down  to  Cator 
and  Grendon  Cot,  and  the  forest.  (These  places  are  noticed  in  Ex. 
26,  R.  42  and  Ex.  44).  The  Ashburton  road  runs  on  to  Rushlade 
and  down  to  the  Yeo,  which  river  it  reaches  under  Whiddon  Wood, 
and  bears  it  company  through  the  narrow  valley  nearly  to  Rewlea 
Cross.  From  this  point  the  road  goes  southward  to  the  town,  the 
centre  of  which  is  about  £  m.  distant.  (For  a  fuller  notice  of  the 
route  from  Rushlade  onward  see  the  end  of  Ex.  26  ;  the  return  route 
will  be  found  partly  at  the  beginning  of  Ex.  26,  and  partly  in  S.  Ex.  89.) 

The  roads  from  Ilsington  to  the  moor  have  all  been  noticed  in 
our  excursions.  One  runs  W.  from  Loothorn  Cross  direct  to  Pincha- 
for  Ball  (S.  Ex.  80)  ;  another  branches  from  this  shortly  before  the 
down  is  reached,  and  goes  northward  to  Lud  Gate  ;  a  third  goes  N. 
from  Loothorn  Cross  through  Trumpeter  and  Middlecott  or  Smalla- 
combe,  being  joined  at  the  former  place  by  one  leaving  the  village 
by  the  lane  opposite  to  the  vicarage,  and  running  up  by  the  Sanctuary 
field  ;  and  a  fourth  goes  E.  of  the  church  northward  to  Narrow- 
combe. 

The  route  to  Bovey  Tracey  having  already  been  given  the  reverse 
way  it  is  only  necessary  to  name  the  chief  points  here.  The  road  runs 
eastward  from  the  village,  S.  of  the  church,  to  Woodhouse  Cross,  and 
thence  to  Higher  Brimley  and  Lower  Brimley.  From  this  hamlet 
the  direction  is  E.  by  N.  The  town  is  reached  soon  after  the  railway 
is  crossed  at  Ashburton  Bridge. 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 


93 


S.  Ex.  82. — Widecombe-in-the-Moor  via  Hemsworthy  Gate.  (7  m. 
from  Bovey  Tracey  Station).  The  way  lies  up  the  hill  to  Hey  Tor 
Down  and  the  turning  L.  to  Hey  Tor  Vale  (3^  m.),  aiivl  j«  described  in 
Ex.  25,  and  S.  Ex.  78.  The  road  is  then  followed  to  Hemsworthy  Gate, 
and  this  part  of  the  route  may  be  reached  by  visitors  from  Ilsington 
either  by  way  of  the  first-named  place  or  by  striking  westward  over 
Pinchaford  Ball  (S.  Ex.  80).  The  road  first  ascends  towards  Hey 
Tor,  the  rocks  rising  on  the  R.  (Ex.  25,  S.  Ex.  80),  on  the  L.  being 
Pinchaford  Ball,  with  Bag  Tor  in  the  hollow  below  it,  near  Mill  Wood 
(Ex.  25).  It  then  leads  us  over  some  level  ground,  where  the 
turf  is  exceptionally  smooth,  towards  Saddle  Tor,  over  which  we  may 
make  our  way  by  the  footpath  that  we  shall  see  branching  R.  (Ex.  25). 
In  advance  is  the  lofty  Rippon  Tor,  noticed  in  Ex.  26,  and  as  we  draw 
nearer  to  it  we  shall  not  fail  to  observe  the  reave  running  down  the 
N.W.  side  of  the  hill.  Eastward  the  view  of  the  country  beyond 
Newton  and  Kingsteignton,  with  the  estuary  of  the  Teign,  is  remark- 
ably fine.  Between  Saddle  Tor  and  Hemsworthy  Gate  the  road 
skirts  the  head  of  Hound  Tor  Combe.  Hound  Tor  itself  is  2  m.  distant, 
but  the  long  combe  to  which  it  gives  name,  and  which  extends  upward 
from  near  Becky  Fall,  has  its  termination  here.  Standing  near  the 
scanty  vestiges  of  the  old  Hemsworthy  Mine  the  rambler  is  within  a 
very  short  distance  of  the  source  of  the  Becky,  and  as  he  looks  down 
the  combe,  beyond  the  lower  end  of  which  the  fine  hill  forming  the 
eastern  side  of  Lustleigh  Cleave  is  seen  to  great  advantage,  his  view 
embraces  the  whole  course  of  the  stream.  Immediately  below,  on  the 
R.  bank  of  it,  is  Hemsworthy  Farm,  and  beyond  this,  lining  the  whole 
side  of  the  valley,  the  grey  clatters  that  have  fallen  from  the  tors 
that  rise  half-ruined  from  the  slope,  while  above  them  Hey  Tor, 
placed  in  a  more  secure  situation,  proudly  uplifts  his  solid  granite 
bosses,  as  yet  hardly  touched  by  the  hand  of  Time.  On  the  L.,  or  W., 
side  of  the  Combe  is  Hoi  well,  with  Haresfoot  Mires  below  it,  and 
beyond  it,  on  Holwell  Down,  the  little  pile  sometimes  known  as  Holwell 
Rocks.  Passing  onward  we  arrive  at  Hemsworthy  Gate,  or  White 
Gate,  as  it  is  often  called  locally,  where  we  find  ourselves  on  the  Chag- 
ford  and  Ashburton  road  (R.  32,  Ex.  26).  About  200  yards  N.  of  the 
gate,  and  quite  close  to  the  wall  is  a  hut  circle  bearing  the  name  of 
Seven  Lords'  Land,  being,  it  is  said,  a  bondmark  of  seven  manors. 

Hey  Tor.  Saddle  Tor. 


Smallacombe  Rocks.        Holwell  Tor. 
FROM   HOLWELL  DOWN,    LOOKING  E. 


94 


Shorter  Excursions  from  Bovey  and  Neighbourhood. 


[Visitors  in  the  Ilsington  neighbourhood  will  find  the  walk  round 
Hound  Tor  Combe  a  very  enjoyable  one.  Making  their  way  first  to  Hems- 
worthy  Gate  they  will  follow  the  Chagford  road  over  Holwell  Down  as 
in  R.  53,  and  on  reaching  the  entrance  to  Hedge  Barton  strike  R. 
across  the  common  to  Hound  Tor.  Then  descending  the  hill  on  the  N. 
side  of  the  tor  the  road  to  Leighon  and  Yarner  Wells  will  be  struck, 
and  this  must  then  be  followed  as  described  in  R.  25.  The  walk  may 
be  extended  from  Hound  Tor  Farm  so  as  to  embrace  Becky  Fall  and 
Becky  Ford,  from  which  latter  spot  the  Higher  Terrace  Drive  runs 
to  the  Wells  and  L,ud  Brook.  Vide  end  of  Ex.  23,  24.] 


Rippon  Tor. 


The  Nutcracker. 


FROM  HOLWELL  DOWN,    LOOKING   S. 

The  rambler  will  turn  R.,  or  N.W.  at  Hemsworthy  Gate  (5}  m. 
fromJBovey  Station),  and  following  the  Chagford  road  for  £  m.  wifl 
branch  I/,  at  the  guide-post.  A  walk  of  a  few  score  yards  will  bring 
him  to  the  top  of  Widecombe  Hill,  where  Tom  Pearse  found  his  old 
grey  mare  "  makin'  'er  weel,"  and  here  a  wide  view  of  the  forest  is 
disclosed.  More  than  500  feet  below,  but  as  yet  unseen,  and  a  mile 
away,  is  the  East  Webburn.  It  flows  almost  in  the  shadow  of  the 
Cathedral  of  the  Moor,  which  we  now  begin  to  discern,  and  is  there 
spanned  by  Northway  Bridge.  To  this  the  rambler  will  now  descend, 
and  having  crossed  it  will  speedily  enter  Widecombe  Town. 


Hameldon. 


Chinkwell 
Tor. 


FROM  HALF-WAY  UP  WIDECOMBE  HILL,    LOOKING   N. 


EXCURSIONS   FROM   WIDECOMBE.  95 


Excursions  from  Widecombe. 

S.  Ex.  83. — Bonehill  Down,  4  m.  ;  the  way  by  Widecombe  Hill 
is  further.  Having  in  our  notice  of  Hameldon  and  the  Widecombe 
valley  described  the  tors  on  the  down  that  form  the  E.  side  of  the 
northern  end  of  the  latter,  it  will  not  now  be  necessary  to  do  more 
than  describe  the  routes  by  which  they  may  be  reached  from  the 
village.  Of  these  there  is  a  choice  of  three.  The  rambler  may  either 
make  his  way  by  the  road  up  the  valley  to  the  turning  below  Isaford  ; 
he  may  go  by  Widecombe  Hill  ;  or  by  the  farms  that  take  their  name 
from  the  down  on  which  the  tors  stand.  The  first  route  will  lead 
him  by  the  manor  house,  f-  m.  from  the  village,  and  soon  after 
passing  this  he  will  cross  the  Webburn.*  Beyond  the  bridge  are 
Stouts  Cottages,  near  which  a  path  runs  through  the  plantation  R.  to 
the  common,  and  further  up  is  the  entrance  to  Bag  Park,  L.  Above 
this,  on  the  same  side,  a  road  leads  to  Pitton,  and  300  yards  on  is  the 
turning  R.  to  the  down  under  Honeybag  Tor.  From  this  point, 
which  is  ii  m.  from  Widecombe  Green,  the  route  will  be  as  sketched 
in  the  Extension  to  R.  24.  This  will  take  the  rambler  along  the  range 
of  tors  to  the  road  S.  of  Bel  Tor,  by  which  he  may  make  his  way  through 
Bonehill,  R.,  direct  to  the  village  ;  or  he  may  continue  S.  to  Bonehill 
Rocks,  and  thence  steering  the  same  course  reach  Widecombe  Hill. 

The  second  route  will  take  him  across  the  green  on  the  N.  side  of 
the  church  to  Northway  Bridge,  and  thence  up  Widecombe  Hill  for 
rather  over  \  m.,  when  having  passed  the  enclosures  he  will  turn  L. 
over  the  common  to  Bonehill  Rocks,  \  m.  off.  Just  beyond  this  group 
the  road  comes  up  L.  from  the  Bonehill  farms,  and  he  will  find  himself 
on  the  route  now  to  be  described. 

The  third  route,  which  is  the  best,  will  lead  the  rambler  to  North- 
way  Bridge,  but  instead  of  passing  over  it  he  will  turn  L.  and  cross  the 
Webburn  a  little  higher  up.  From  this  point  the  verge  of  Bonehill 
Down  is  f-  m.  distant,  and  '400  feet  above  the  stream.  The  road  runs 
up  through  the  Bonehill  farms,  and  on  the  common  being  reached  the 
rambler  will  be  close  to  the  rocks  bearing  that  name.  The  road  R.  goes 
on  to  the  top  of  Widecombe  Hill  ;  the  track  running  straight  up  over 
the  down  goes  to  the  corner  of  Hedge  Down  where  it  joins  the  Chagford 
road  ;  the  footpath  I,,  of  it  leads  to  Hedge  Barton  ;  and  the  track  L. 
runs  to  the  turning  below  Isaford,  with  a  branch  path  to  the  road  near 
Stouts  Cottages. 

*  This  is  Widecombe  Town  Manor.  There  are  five  others  in  the 
parish :  Natsworthy,  Dunstone,  Blackslade,  Blackaton,  and  Spitch- 
wick. 

7?^  ,   v^>ti*V  .  .  /§Oy 


96  EXCURSIONS    FROM    WIDECOMBE. 

Our  way  will  now  lie  N.  to  Bel  Tor,  on  which  there  are  some  rock 
basins,  and  thence  to  Sharp  Tor,  Chinkwell,  and  Moneybag,  the  ramble 
being  the  reverse  of  that  described  in  Ex.  24.  On  the  R.  of  the 
visitor,  as  he  proceeds  northward,  is  Hedge  Barton  ;  on  the  L. 
the  Widecombe  valley  ;  and  before  him,  and  beyond  the  range  he 
is  traversing,  the  commons  of  Heytree,  Vogwell,  and  Cripdon  (Ex.  24), 
backed  by  the  lofty  East  Down  (S.  Ex.  61). 

From  Honeybag  Tor  the  rambler  will  descend  the  western  side  of  the 
hill  to  the  track,  and  so  reach  the  lane  at  the  turning  below  Isaford 
(Ex.  24).  [From  this  point  Higher  Natsworthy  is  f  m.  distant  ; 
Berry  Pound  (via  Natsworthy)  under  i£  m.  ;  Heytree  Cross,  if  m.] 
Turning  L.  when  the  lane  is  reached  the  visitor  will  make  his  way 
down  the  valley  to  the  village. 

[The  visitor  may  extend  this  excursion  by  going  up  the  valley  to 
Higher  Natsworthy,  and  returning  by  way  of  the  side  of  Hameldon, 
taking  care  to  avoid  coal  mires.  A  path  runs  from  Natsworthy  in  a 
south-easterly  direction  nearly  to  Hameldon  Beacon,  and  this  the 
rambler  will  follow  for  about  £  m.,  when  he  will  leave  it  and  strike  S. 
His  way  will  now  lie  along  the  slope  of  the  great  hill,  about  £  m. 
above  Bagpark  Plantation.  A  walk  of  rather  over  i  m.  will  bring  him 
to  the  enclosures  of  Kingshead,  with  those  belonging  to  the  manor 
house  below  on  the  L.  A  path  across  one  of  them  will  lead  to  the 
steep  lane  that  comes  down  from  Kingshead,  by  which  he  will  descend 
to  the  road  £  m.  from  Widecombe  Church.  This  extension  will  add 
nearly  2  m.  to  the  ramble.] 

S.  Ex.  84. — Hameldon  Beacon  and  Natsworthy,  5^  m.  WITH 
EXTENSION  to  Hameldon  Cross  and  Grim's  Pound,-  7  m.  Leaving  the 
green  by  the  road  running  up  the  valley,  the  rambler  will  pass  the  first 
turning  L.  (the  old  Church  Way,  T.  76)  and  take  the  next  on  that  side, 
which  is  only  a  very  short  distance  further  on.  This  is  the  steep  lane 
by  which  the  visitor  was  directed  to  descend  from  the  common  in  the 
preceding  excursion.  Passing  upward  the  path  there  referred  to  will 
be  seen  R.,  and  turning  into  this,  with  Kingshead  Farm  higher  up  on 
the  L.,  he  will  cross  the  field  and  reach  the  down.  From  this  point 
Hameldon  Beacon  is  about  i  m.  distant,  or  if  m.  from  the  village. 
The  course  to  be  steered  is  N.W.  by  N.,  and  when  the  rambler  is  nearing 
the  summit  of  the  hill  he  will  come  in  sight  of  the  wall  of  Blackaton 
Down.  This  he  will  keep  L.,  and  follow  it  to  the  Beacon,  which  has 
been  already  described  in  the  section  on  Hameldon. 

[If  it  be  desired  to  extend  this  ramble  to  Hameldon  Cross,  or 
Grim's  Pound,  the  wall  must  be  followed  to  Two  Barrows,  whence  the 
course  will  be  northward  to  Single  Barrow  and  Broad-  Barrow,  from 
which  last-named  tumulus  Hameldon  Cross  is  only  a  very  short  dis- 
tance N.W.  The  whole  of  these  objects,  and  their  bearings,  are 
noticed  in  the  section  just  referred  to.  Hameldon  Tor  is  N.N.W. 
of  the  cross,  and  less  than  |  m.  away.  From  this  pile  the  rambler 
will  look  down  upon  Grim's  Pound,  which,  by  this  route,  the  most 
direct  one,  is  3  m.  from  Widecombe.  A  description  of  Grim's  Pound 
is  given  in  Ex.  22,  and  its  surroundings  are  also  noticed  in  S.  Ex.  59, 
60,  and  62.  From  the  pound  the  return  to  Widecombe  will  be  by 
way  of  Berry  Pound  and  Natsworthy,  the  way  being  described  in  S. 
Ex.  60.] 


EXCURSIONS   FROM    WIDECOMBE.  97 

To  return  from  Hameldon  Beacon  via  Natsworthy  the  rambler 
must  steer  N.E.  by  E.,  and  should  strike  the  path  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  excursion  as  running  from  that  place  towards  the  beacon. 
At  Natsworthy  the  road  to  the  village  is  reached.  (Extension  Ex.  24. 
The  road  below  it  is  described  the  reverse  way  at  the  beginning  of 
S.  Ex.  83). 

S.  Ex.  85. — Blackaton  Down,  Challacombe,  Grendon  Bridge,  Lower 
Blackaton,  Langworthy,  6  m.  Our  way  will  first  take  us  over  the  ridge 
southward  of  Hameldon  Beacon  to  the  top  of  Gore  Hill,  to  which  point 
we  shall  have  the  guidance  of  the  Church  Way  (T.  76).  This  ancient 
path  commences  at  what  is  now  known  as  Church  Lane,  the  first  turning 
on  the  L.  from  the  road  leading  up  the  Widecombe  valley  from  the 
green.  We  follow  it  to  the  down,  the  point  where  it  emerges  on  this 
being  appropriately  named  Church  Lane  Head,  and  thence  north- 
westward across  the  turf  as  in  R.  42,  C.  q.v.  Passing  the  Hatchwell 
branch  L-,  and  Kingshead  Corner  R.,  we  speedily  reach  Gore  Hill. 
Here  we  leave  the  old  path  to  the  forest,  and  follow  the  one  that  goes 
on  to  Challacombe  (T.  47).  We  do  not  therefore  descend  Gore  Hill, 
but  continue  our  north-westerly  course,  with  the  enclosures  L.  Very 
soon  we  enter  upon  Blackaton  Down,  the  wall  of  which  comes  down 
the  steep  side  of  the  common  from  Hameldon  Beacon.  Our  path  is 
a  well-defined  one,  and  runs  along  the  higher  part  of  the  small  irregular 
enclosures  that  here  creep  up  the  steep  from  the  valley  of  the  Broad- 
ford  Brook.  £  m.  on  we  reach  another  wall  of  Blackaton  Down — the 
one  that  descends  from  Two  Barrows — and  here  our  path  runs  into 
the  road  that  comes  up  from  Lower  Hatchwell.  Following  this  north- 
ward for  about  ^  m.  we  reach  Challacombe  (2^  m.  from  Widecombe), 
which  consists  of  a  farm  and  a  couple  of  cottages.  Headland  Warren 
House,  mentioned  in  Ex.  22,  is  i  m.  further  up  the  valley,  but  we  do 
not  now  make  our  way  thither.  We  turn  here,  but  instead  of  retracing 
our  steps  to  Lower  Hatchwell,  we  shall  follow  the  road  that  we  see 
running  down  by  the  side  of  the  West  Webburn,  and  which  leads 
onward  to  Grendon  and  Cator  (Ex.  44).  The  lonely  house  on  the  R. 
as  we  proceed  is  Soussons  (Ex.  44),  and  soon  after  passing  this  we 
reach  Grendon  Bridge.  This  is  the  road  by  which  the  coaches  from 
Widecombe  pass  up  the  valley,  the  one  running  up  from  Lower  Hatch- 
well  not  being  suited  to  such  traffic.  We  are  now  again  on  the  line  of 
the  old  Church  Way,  and  shall  follow  it  eastward  from  the  bridge,  as 
in  R.  5  C,  over  Hill  Head  and  past  Lower  Blackaton  and  Lower  Hatch- 
well,  to  the  point  where  it  begins  to  climb  Gore  Hill.  There  we  leave 
it,  and  following  the  road  R.  for  about  •£  m.  to  the  second  turning  L. 
at  Langworthy,  shall  speedily  regain  the  common  £  m.  from  Church 
Lane  Head.  We  shall  reach  the  path  there  by  striking  a  little  S.  of  W. 

S.  Ex.  86. — Dunstone  Down,  Rowden  Down,  and  Jordan  Ball,  5^  m. 
Leaving  the  village  by  the  Ponsworthy  road  we  take  the  first  turning 
R.  and  pass  up  the  hill  towards  Southcombe,  our  way  lying  over 
the  track  already  described  (T.  52).  We  reach  Dunstone  Down 
at  Southcombe  Gate,  and  shall  find  our  way  over  it  clearly  marked 
by  the  path.  A  little  way  on  we  leave  the  broader  track  and  take 
the  footpath  leading  down  the  slope  to  the  stroll  by  which  Rowden 
DOVSD  is  approached,  the  direction  being  W.S.W.  (R.  42  B.)  On 


98  EXCURSIONS    FROM    WIDECOMBE. 

reaching  the  latter  we  shall  make  our  way  to  the  summit,  which 
is  known  as  Rowden  Ball.  Here  is  a  small  tor,  and  near  to  it  is  a 
dilapidated  cairn,  much  overgrown,  with  a  hollow  sunk  in  the  centre, 
from  which  stones  appear  to  have  been  taken.  It  seems  to  have  been 
formerly  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  stones  and  a  low  bank,  but  only 
parts  of  these  now  remain.  Joined  to  it  is  an  enclosure  of  an  oblong 
form.  Near  the  northern  edge  of  the  down  is  Rowden  Farm,  on  the 
road  leading  to  Lower  Cator  ;  from  its  western  verge  a  track  leads  to 
Broadford  Farm,  on  the  brook  of  that  name,  which  falls  into  the 
West  Webburn  immediately  below  it ;  and  from  its  southern  side 
the  path  which  we  deserted  in  order  to  examine  this  despoiled  cairn 
runs  down  between  the  enclosures  to  the  little  common  known  as 
Jordan  Ball.  The  air  of  semi-wildness  worn  by  this  part  of  the  moor 
is  very  charming.  Heathery  downs  delightfully  intermingle  with 
little  irregularly  shaped  crofts,  many  of  them  very  ancient,  and  which 
speak  of  a  time  when  the  early  farm  settlers  forced  their  way  into 
these  upland  valleys.  To  the  path  last  mentioned  we  now  direct  our 
steps,  and  descend  the  side  of  Jordan  Ball  to  the  Webburn,  just  before 
reaching  which  we  pass  the  entrance  to  East  Shallowford.  Built  into 
the  wall  on  the  L.  of  this  is  a  large  stone  of  the  kind  formerly  used  for 
hanging  gates,  and  of  which  several  examples  have  been  noticed. 
(Ex.  20,  S.  Ex.  50).  In  its  centre  the  circular  hollow  that  received 
the  stanchion  will  be  seen.  Just  below  is  the  shallow  ford  on  the 
West  Webburn  which  gives  name  to  this  farm  and  to  the  neighbour- 
ing one  on  the  further  bank  of  the  stream.  Here  there  is  a  clapper  of 
three  openings,  and  crossing  over  this  we  pass  up  to  West  Shallowford, 
immediately  above  which  the  road  from  Ponsworthy,  Pound's  Gate, 
and  Dartmeet  comes  L.  from  Lock's  Gate  Cross,  and  runs  R.  to  Cator 
and  the  forest  (R.  42  B). 

Descending  to  the  stream  we  shall  again  cross  it,  and  make  our 
way  down  by  the  L.  bank  to  Jordan  Mill,  and  the  hamlet  of  that  name.* 
From  near  this  a  footpath  runs  across  some  fields  to  Bittleford  Farm, 
where  is  a  fine  old  granite  doorway  bearing  the  date  1706.  Having 
reached  this  we  shall  follow  the  road  that  leads  from  it  to  Bittleford 
Down,  and  striking  N.  shall  make  for  our  next  point,  Wind  Tor,  which 
is  rather  over  •£  m.  distant.  Here  we  turn  E.  and  cross  the  turf  to 
Higher  Dunstone,  where  we  reach  the  Widecombe  road.  We  turn  L. 
towards  the  village,  but  a  few  score  yards  on  shall  leave  the  road  at  the 
turning  R.  in  order  to  visit  Lower  Dunstone,  which  is  close  by.  On 
the  green  is  a  large  block  of  stone  having  a  hollow  on  its  surface,  and  in 
this,  it  is  said,  the  chief  rents  were  deposited  when  the  manor  courts 
were  held  here  in  the  open  air,  as  was  formerly  the  case.  The  late 
Mr.  Robert  Dymond,  the  owner  of  the  manor,  revived  this  old 
usage  in  1878.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  notice  a 
custom  formerly  observed  in  some  parts  of  Sweden  by  the  peasantry 
of  throwing  small  pieces  of  money  into  the  rock  basins  as  they  passed 
them,  and  in  which  it  has  been  thought  a  relic  of  the  superstitious 
veneration  in  which  they  were  held  might  be  traced.  The  manor  of 

*  If  we  adopt  the  moorman's  pronounciation  of  the  name  of  the 
hill  in  the  northern  part  of  the  moor,  already  visited — Kennon,  near 
Throwleigh  (Ex.  18,  19) — it  is  possible  to  agree  with  the  statement 
that  Canaan  and  Jordan  are  both  to  be  found  on  Dartmoor. 


EXCURSIONS   FROM    WIDECOMBE.  99 

Dunstone  was  bestowed  by  the  Conqueror  on  Ralph  de  Pomeraie,  and 
remained  in  that  family  for  at  least  two  centuries.  Returning  to  the 
road  we  shall  make  our  way  back  to  Widecombe. 

S.  Ex.  87. —  Venton,  Blackslade  Down,  Foale's  Arrishes,  Tor  Hill, 
and  the  Ruggle  Stone,  4  m.  Opposite  to  the  Old  Inn  a  road  runs  easterly 
along  the  south  side  of  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  churchyard  gate. 
This  we  shall  now  follow,  and  crossing  the  Webburn  at  Venton  Bridge, 
just  below  which  is  a  manorial  bondmark  called  Hennaford  Stone, 
shall  reach  the  Ruggle  Stone  Inn,  and  may  if  we  choose  make  our  way 
direct  to  the  logan  on  the  verge  of  the  common  near  by  from  which  it 
takes  its  name.  Or  we  may  turn  L.  at  Venton,  a  little  further  on,  and 
keeping  close  to  the  enclosures,  on  that  hand,  be  speedily  led  to 
it.  (Another  route  is  by  way  of  Widecombe  Hill :  about  £  m.  from 
Northway  Bridge  the  limits  of  the  enclosed  land  on  the  R.  will  be 
reached,  and  here  the  rambler  must  turn  in  that  direction,  again  turn- 
ing R.  at  the  second  corner,  when  he  will  see  the  rock  just  below  him  ; 
it  is  only  £  m.  from  the  road).  As  our  present  excursion  will  bring  us 
to  this  object  we  defer  our  remarks  concerning  it,  and  shall  therefore 
pass  through  Venton,  where  on  the  little  green  we  shall  notice  an 
upping-stock  formed  by  steps  cut  in  a  large  granite  boulder,  and 
follow  the  road  to  Chittleford.  Here  are  two  very  good  examples 
of  the  granite  porches  of  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  one 
exhibiting  the  date  1686  and  the  other  1741.  Passing  up  the  hill  we 
very  shortly  reach  a  gate  L.  where  a  path  runs  across  a  field  to  a  lane 
leading  past  Blackslade,  the  seat  of  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Dymond,  to 
the  commons.  (The  road  goes  on  by  Scobitor  to  Pudsham  Down,  and 
crossing  the  Ruddycleave  Water  runs  up  the  side  of  Buckland  Common 
to  Cold  East  Cross,  R.  32,  Ex.  26).  On  passing  Blackslade,  which 
appears  in  Domesday  as  Blacheslach,  the  down  of  that  name  is  reached 
at  the  foot  of  the  stroll  below  Tunhill  Rocks  (R.  5  B).  The  gate  of 
Tunhill  Farm  is  hi  the  further  corner  of  the  stroll,  and  running  from  it 
is  the  old  track  we  have  already  described  (T.  51).  This  we  now  follow 
up  the  hill  R.,  and  in  rather  less  than  \  m.  shall  reach  a  fine  example  of 
a  kistvaen,  discovered  several  years  ago  buried  beneath  a  cairn.  It 
will  be  seen  to  the  L.  of  the  track.  Here  it  was  that  the  wicked  Jan 
Reynolds  once  entered  into  a  compact  with  a  stranger,  who  turned 
out  to  be  the  Prince  of  Darkness,  and  failing  to  keep  it  became  his 
victim.  Seven  years  after  the  meeting  Jan  was  discovered  indulging 
in  a  nap  in  Widecombe  Church  on  a  Sunday  afternoon,  and  it  was  the 
appearance  of  Satan  there  to  claim  him  that  occasioned  the  great 
thunder-storm  which  we  have  already  spoken  of.  Jan  was  borne 
away  on  the  fiend's  black  steed,  when  some  cards  that  he  held  in  his 
liand  were  dropped  on  the  moor,  and  are  now  to  be  seen,  in  a  trans- 
formed state,  near  the  old  Vitifer  Mines.  (Ex.  22). 

We  strike  S.  from  the  kistvaen  to  Whittaburrow,  a  cairn  which 
we  see  on  the  hill  a  short  distance  off.  The  E.  side  of  this  hill  descends 
to  the  Ruddycleave  Water,  here  generally  called  the  Blackslade  Water, 
and  which  rises  near  by  in  Blackslade  Mire.  This  part  of  the  moor  is 
noticed  hi  Ex.  26.  Returning  to  the  Tunhill  road,  we  cross  it,  leaving 
the  kistvaen  R.,  and  make  our  way  to  Tunhill  Rocks,  a  rather  striking 
pile  rising  on  the  verge  of  the  down.  Thence  we  shall  direct  our  step's 
eastward  to  a  cluster  of  hut  circles,  about  \  m.  distant,  and  in  a  line 


TOO  EXCURSIONS    FROM    WIDECOMBE. 

between  us  and  Hemsworthy  Gate,  to  which  they  are  near.  Some  of 
these  ruined  dwellings  are  placed  within  small  rectangular  enclosures 
formed  by  low  reaves,  and  bearing  the  name  of  Foale's  Arrishes. 
These  remains  are  partly  covered  with  vegetation,  and  there  is  little 
about  them  likely  to  detain  the  ordinary  visitor,  but  they  possess  an 
interest  for  the  antiquary.  Although  this  example  of  huts  within 
enclosures  such  as  these  is  not  altogether  unique  on  Dartmoor,  the 
arrangement  is  one  that  is  not  usually  seen.  (A  description  of  the 
common  between  the  slope  on  which  these  remains  are  situated  and 
Rippon  Tor,  S.E.,  as  well  as  of  the  tor  itself,  will  be  found  in  Ex.  26). 

A  short  distance  northward  of  Foale's  Arrishes  is  Top  Tor,  or,  as 
the  natives  call  it,  Tapter.  That  part  of  the  common  immediately 
around  it  is  usually  referred  to  as  Tor  Hill,  the  other  piles  that  con- 
tribute to  the  appropriateness  of  the  name  being  Pil  Tor,  W.  of  the 
Arrishes,  and  Hollow  Tor,  to  the  N.W.  of  that,  but  they  are  neither 
of  them  very  large.  Hollow  Tor,  a  little  northward  of  which  is  a  bond- 
mark  known  as  Shovel  Stone,  should  be  the  last  to  be  visited,  and  from 
there  the  rambler  will  strike  W.  down  the  hill  to  the  Ruggle  Stone, 
£  m.  distant.  When  we  draw  near  the  walls  of  the  enclosures  we  bear 
a  little  to  the  R.,  and  speedily  arrive  at  that  object.  The  Ruggle  Stone 
is  a  huge  mass  of  granite  resting  on  the  rocks  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
slightly  "log,"  though  it  used  to  be  said  that  it  could  only  be  set  in 
motion  with  the  aid  of  the  church  key.  It  is  about  22  feet  in  length 
and  1 6  feet  wide.  Close  to  it  is  another  "  logging  "  stone,  but  one  of  a 
different  character.  It  resembles  a  large  slab,  and  is  not  more  than 
half  the  length  of  the  other.  The  weight  of  the  larger  rock  has  been 
computed  to  be  about  1 1 5  tons. 

Having  brought  our  wanderings  over  this  part'  of  the  Widecombe 
Commons  to  a  close  we  shall  now  return  to  the  village,  which  we  may 
do  either  by  way  of  the  Ruggle  Stone  Inn,  or  by  turning  northward 
to  the  road  and  descending  to  Northway  Bridge. 

Ponsworthy,  Pound's  Gate,  and  other  places  near  the  southern  end 
of  the  Widecombe  valley,  are  noticed  in  our  Ashburton  excursions. 


Roads  out  of  Wideeombe. 

To  Natsworthy  and  Heytree  Cross  :  S.  Ex.  83.  This  is  also  the 
Chagford,  North  Bovey,  and  Moreton  road. 

To  Bonehill  Down  and  Swine  Down  Gate  :  S.  Ex.  83  ;  R.  53. 

To  Bovey  Tracey,  via  Widecombe  Hill  and  Hemsworthy  Gate  :  R.  5  A. 

To  Ashburton,  via  Cold  East  Cross  :  S.  Ex.  87,  to  Chittleford  ; 
up  the  hill  to  Pudsham  Down  ;  descend  to  the  Ruddycleave  Water  ; 
up  the  hill  to  Cold  East  Cross  ;  turn  R.  as  in  R.  32. 

To  BucKland  :  S.  road  from  the  village  for  i  m.  ;  turn  L.  at  guide- 
post  to  Cockingford  ;  up  the  hill  to  Stone  Cross  ;  turn  R.  ;  straight  on. 

To  Ponsworthy  and  Dartmeet :  S.  road  from  the  village  ;  turn  neither 
R.  nor  L.  Ponsworthy  is  reached  in  2^  m.  ;  thence  as  in  R.  42  A. 

To  Grendon  Cot  (branches  to  Cator)  :  S.  road  from  the  village  for 
rather  over  i  m.,  passing  the  turning  to  Cockingford.  Then  turn  R. 
to  Bittleford  Down,  and  keep  R.  At  guide-post  continue  N.  for  i  m. 
when  turn  L.  to  Lower  Hatchwell  ;  thence  over  Hill  Head. 


ROUTE  39.   BOVEY  TRACEY  TO  ASHBURTON.    101 


Routes  from  Bovey  Traeey. 

R.  39. — To  Ashburton,  S.W.  Leverton,  New  Inn,  Bickington, 
•j\  m.  Reverse,  R.  54.  The  route  via  Ilsington  is  given  in  §.  Ex.  81  ; 
this  is  about  8  m. 

This  is  a  road  route.  The  pedestrian  will  cross  the  railway  at 
Ashburton  Bridge,  as  in  S.  Ex.  81,  and  will  bear  R.  at  the  first  junction. 
\  m.  on,  at  Brimley  Corner,  he  will  strike  L.,  the  direction  of  the  road 
tow  being  about  S.  When  it  begins  to  bend  westward  he  must  leave 
in  for  another  running  L.  through  Leverton.  About  i  m.  beyond  this 
the  Exeter  and  Plymouth  highway  will  be  reached,  the  New  Inn 
standing  near  the  junction  of  the  roads.  Her*  the  visitor  will  turn  R., 
and  passing  through  Bickington,  \\  m.  S.W.,  will  reach  Ashburton  in 
another  3  m. 

R.  40. — To  Brent  and  Ivybridge,  S.W.  B.,  15!  m.  /.,  2o|  m. 
For  points  and  directions  vide  R.  39,  47.  Reverse,  R.  65. 

R.  41. — To  Plympton  and  Shaugh,  S.W.  by  W.  P.,  27  m.  S., 
via  Ivybridge  and  Cornwood,  29  m.  For  points  and  directions  vide 
R-  39.  47.  55.  56,  57-  Reverse,  R.  72. 

The  first  part  of  this  route  is  the  same  as  R.  39,  47,  which  give 
directions  for  reaching  Ivybridge.  Thence  the  road  to  Plympton  is 
described  in  R.  55,  and  that  to  Shaugh  in  R.  57.  Should  the  visitor 
desire  to  make  his  way  over  the  moor  to  Shaugh,  he  may  either  branch 
off  at  Buckfastleigh  or  Brent.  In  the  former  case  he  must  consult 
R.  48,  which  gives  the  necessary  directions,  while  R.  56  describes  the 
way  from  Brent.  Distance  from  Buckfastleigh  across  the  moor  to 
Shaugh,  via  Shipley  and  Three  Barrows,  14^  m.  ;  from  Brent,  via  Owley 
and  Harford,  12  m. 

R.  42. — To  Princetown,  W.  by  S.  (A)  Hey  Tor  Down,  Hems- 
worthy  Gate,  Newhouse,  Pudsham  Down,  Cockingford,  Ponsworthy, 
Dartmeet,  Hexworthy,  Swincombe.  P.T.,  i6£  m.  ;  T.B.,  17^  m.  T.B., 
via  Dunnabridge  from  Dartmeet,  16  m.  (B)  Hemsworthy  Gate,  Black- 
slade,  Dunstone  Down,  Rowden  Down,  West  Shallowford,  Bellaford 
Bridge,  Cherry  Brook,  Two  Bridges.  T.B.,  15^  m.  P.T.,  17  m. 
{C)  Hemsworthy  Gate,  Widecombe,  Gore  Hill,  Grendon  Bridge,  Runnage, 
Post  Bridge,  Two  Bridges.  T.B.,  i6£  m.  ;  P.T.,  18  m.  Reverse,  R.  5. 
Route  A  is  the  most  convenient. 

[Objects:  Exs.  25,  26,  27,  44,  46,  5.] 

(A)  Ascending  the  hill  leading  to  the  commons  from  the  station, 
we  pass  Five  Wyches  Cross  and  Lower  Down  Cross  (Ex.  24),  and 
2  m.  from  our  starting-point  shall  reach  Hey  Tor  Down  (S.  Ex.  82, 
Ex.  25).  Still  following  the  road  we  make  our  way  past  Shot  Planta- 
tion and  Lud  Gate  (L.),  afterwards  leaving  Hey  Tor  and  Saddle  Tor 
R.  2  m.  from  Lud  Gate  we  reach  reach  Hemsworthy  Gate,  5^  m.  from 
Bovey  Station.  Passing  through  this  we  turn  L.,  following  the  road 
with  Rippon  Tor  L-,  and  when  just  beyond  the  ruined  enclosures  of 


102          ROUTE  42.      BOVEY   TRACEY   TO   PRINCETOWN. 

Newhouse,  R.  (Ex.  26),  shall  leave  the  road  and  strike  S.W.  down  the 
side  of  Yarder  to  the  bridge  over  the  Ruddycleave  Water.  Crossing 
this  we  mount  the  hill,  having  enclosures  L.  and  Pudsham  Down  R. 
At  the  first  fork  we  keep  L.  ;  at  the  second  we  bear  R.,  and  descend 
to  Cockingford  Mill  on  the  East  Webburn.  This  stream  we  cross, 
and  pass  up  the  hill  to  the  Widecombe  (R.)  and  Ponsworthy  (L.)  road. 
(This  point  may  be  reached  from  Hemsworthy  Gate  by  way  of  Black- 
slade,  as  in  B.  post,  the  rambler  turning  L.  on  striking  the  Widecombe 
and  Ponsworthy  road,  which  he  will  do  immediately  after  passing 
through  Lower  Dunstone).  We  turn  L.,  and  in  about  i  m.  shall 
arrive  at  Ponsworthy.  Here  a  steep  lane  branches  R.,  and  making 
our  way  up  this  we  presently  reach  Sherberton  Common  at  Lock's 
Gate  Cross.  Here  two  lanes  runs  northward,  and  the  road  also  forks 
towards  the  south.  We  take  the  right  hand  one  of  the  latter  branches, 
and  make  our  way  over  the  common,  with  some  enclosures  R.,  our 
course  being  a  little  S.  <5f  W.  At  Ouldsbroom  Cross,  i  m.  from  Pons- 
worthy, a  road  runs  R.  to  Sherwell  and  another  L.  to  Pound's  Gate, 
but  we  keep  straight  on,  and  descend  the  long  steep  hill  to  Dartmeet. 
Passing  up  Hart  Hole  Lane  we  soon  reach  a  gate,  L.,  where  the  road 
runs  down  to  Huccaby,  and  goes  on  to  Holne.  From  this  point  we 
may  either  continue  straight  on,  and  follow  the  road  past  Dunnabridge 
Pound  (Ex.  42)  and  Prince  Hall  Lodge  (Ex.  4)  to  Two  Bridges,  or  make 
our  way  across  the  moor.  The  rambler  bound  for  Two  Bridges  should 
keep  to  the  road,  but  if  Princetown  be  his  destination  he  will  shorten  the 
distance  by  about  i£  m.  by  adopting  the  latter  course.  If  he  decide 
upon  this  he  will  pass  through  the  gate,  and  just  beyond  Huccaby 
(this  is  R.,  St.  Raphael's  Chapel  L.),  will  cross  the  West  Dart  at  Hex- 
worthy  Bridge,  and  climb  the  hill  to  the  Forest  Inn.  The  way  then 
lies  up  over  the  bit  of  common  by  the  side  of  that  hostelry  to  the  Gobbet 
and  Sherburton  road.*  Here  he  will  turn  R.,  and  proceeding  for 
about  300  yards  will  enter  the  gate  in  the  corner  of  the  enclosure  L. 
From  this  point  we  shall  follow  the  Princetown  and  Hexworthy 
track  (T.  8),  which  is  well  defined  throughout.  It  will  first  lead  us  to 
another  gate,  and  thence  down  the  side  of  the  hill,  with  the  enclosures 
called  the  Arrishes  R.,  to  Swincombe  Ford  and  the  Fairy  Bridge 
(Ex.  4). 

[Two  Bridges  is  reached  from  this  point  by  passing  through  the 
short  lane  leading  from  the  further  bank  of  the  stream  to  Swincombe 
Newtake,  and  following  the  somewhat  imperfectly  marked  track  that 
runs  over  it  in  a  north-westerly  direction  to  Prince  Hall  Bridge  (T.  10). 
There  the  West  Dart  is  crossed,  and  the  road  leading  by  the  house  to 
the  Dartmeet  and  Two  Bridges  highway  is  followed.  There  turn  L., 
and  in  i  m.  the  last-named  place  will  be  reached.] 

Crossing  the  stream  we  turn  L.  and  follow  the  track  W.  imme- 
diately hi  front  of  Swincombe  farmhouse  (T.  8)4 and  speedily  reach 
Tor  Royal  Newtake,  or  the  same  point  may  be  gained  by  passing 
at  the  back  of  the  house.  Hence  the  way  lies  by  Cholake  Head,  the 
Crock  of  Gold,  Bull  Park,  and  Tor  Royal  Lodge,  as  hi  Ex.  4.  The 
distance  from  Hexworthy  to  Princetown  by  this  route  is  4^  m. 

*  This  leads  to  the  forest  holding  noticed  in  Ex.  42,  which  is  not 
connected  with  the  common  named  above. 


ROUTE  42.      BOVEY   TRACEY   TO   PRINCETOWN.         103 

(B)  To  Hemsworthy  Gate  as  in  A.     Thence  the  visitor  will  strike 
W.  by  S.  across  the  common  to  Pil  Tor,  •£  m.,  passing  Poale's  Arrishes 
(S.  Ex.  87)  on  the  way.     These  he  will  leave  L.     From  the  tor  he 
will  make  his  way  to  Tunhill  Rocks,  £  m.  W.S.W.,  and  thence  down 
the  narrow  stroll  below.     In  the  left  hand"  bottom  corner  of  this  is  the 
road  leading  to  Blackslade,  which  is  close  by  ;  the  road  in  the  corner 
R.  goes  to  Tunhill  Farm,  also  quite  near.     Passing  in  front  of  Black- 
slade we  shall  make  our  way  down  the  path  through  the  fields  to  the 
lane,  and  descend  to  Chittleford.     Here  we  turn  L.,  and  almost  imme- 
diately afterwards  R.,  and  £  rn.  on  cross  the  East  Webburn  at  Dunstone 
Bridge,  thence  passing  through  the  hamlet  of  Lower  Dunstone  (S.  Ex. 
86),  to  the  Widecombe  and  Ponsworthy  road.     (If  it  is  now  desired 
to  follow  route  A,  the  rambler  will  turn  L.,  and  in  about  \  m.  will 
find  himself  at  the  head  of  the  road  coming  up  L.  from  Cockingford 
Mill,   from  which  point  the  directions  given  in  that  route  must  be 
followed).     Turning  L.   we  proceed  southward  for  about   100  yards, 
and  then  take  the  turning  R.  to  Higher  Dunstone,  on  the  verge  of 
Dunstone  Down.     Striking  across  the  common  in  a  westerly  direction, 
and  passing  close  to  Wind  Tor,  we  gain  the  road  running  up  towards 
Lower  Blackaton  in  about  |  m.,  and  follow  it  N.W.     We  pass  the  first 
turning  L.,  where  a  lane  leads  to  Dockwell  and  Jordan  Mill,  but  turn 
down  the  next  on  that  side,  which  is  a  stroll  extending  to  Rowden 
Down  (S.  Ex.  86).     We  keep  close  to  the  walls  on  the  L.  and  shortly, 
when  near  the  southern  extremity  of  the  little  common,  pass  into  a 
lane  between  some  enclosures  and  follow  it  down  the  side  of  Jordan 
Ball  to  the  clapper  on  the  West  Webburn  (T.  52).     Crossing  this  we 
pass  up  by  West  Shallowford  to  the  road  running  along  the  foot  of 
Corn  Down,  and  leading  from  Lock's  Gate  Cross  above  Ponsworthy, 
L.,  to  Cator  and  Bellaford  Bridge  R.  (Ex.  44).     We  cross  it  and  climb 
the  hill,  our  course  being  a  little  N.  of  W.     Descending  the  W.  side  of 
the  ridge  we  strike  the  Walla  Brook  about  midway  between  Babeny 
L.  and  Riddon  R.     Should  the  stream  be  in  flood  we  shall  have  to 
make  our  way  to  one  or  other  of  those  places  in  order  to  cross  it,  but 
usually  this  can  be  easily  done  at  the  point  we  have  reached.     On 
gaming  the  R.  bank  we  are  in  the  forest,  and  have  now  to  pass  over 
Riddon  Bridge  to  Bellaford  Bridge,   \\  m.  distant.     (If  we  cross  at 
Riddon  our  course  will  be  N.W.  by  W.  ;  if  at  Babeny  our  way  will  lie 
between  the  newtakes  to  the  southern  part  of  the  ridge,  and  thence 
N.N.W.,  with  the  East  Dart  not  far  below  us  L.  ;  the  course  from  the 
point  on  the  bank  of  the  stream  first  reached  is  N.W.)     Bellaford 
Bridge  is  on  the  old  Lich  Path  (T.  18),  and  on  reaching  it  we  follow 
that  track  to  the  Princetown  road.     It  will  lead  us  up  by  Bellaford 
Farm  and  across  the  side  of  Lakehead  Hill,  with  the  wall    of    that 
extensive  newtake  close  to  us  on  the  L.   throughout  the  way.     On 
reaching  the  road  at  Higher  Cherry  Brook  Bridge  we  turn  L.   and 
follow  the  instructions  given  in  R.   35.     Two  Bridges  is  2  m.,   and 
Princetown  3^  m.  distant. 

(C)  Our  first  point  will  be  Hemsworthy  Gate,  vide  A.     Here  we 
bear  R.  to  the  forks  of  the  road  a  short  distance  on,  where  is  a  guide- 
post.     We  take  the  L.  branch  as  in  S.  Ex.  82,  and  shortly  after  com- 
mence the  descent  of  the  steep  Widecombe  Hill.     At  its  foot  we  cross 
the  East  Webburn  and  speedily  find  ourselves  in  the  village,  which  is 
rather  over   \\  m.  from  Hemsworthy.     From  the  church  the  road 


io4     ROUTE  43.   BOVEY  TRACEY  TO  TAVISTOCK. 

running  N.W.  must  be  followed  for  a  short  distance,  when  the  rambler 
will  turn  L.,  and  make  his  way  up  the  steep  lane  to  the  common 
(S.  Ex.  85).  He  is  now  on  the  ancient  Church  Way  (T.  76),  which  runs 
from  Widecombe  to  Post  Bridge.  On  the  common  it  is  a  plainly  marked 
green  track,  the  direction  of  which  is  about  N.W.  Soon  after  leaving 
the  fields  R.  there  is  a  branch  L.  to  Hatchwell,  but  this  must  not  be 
followed.  In  £  m.  from  the  point  at  which  we  enter  on  the  down  we 
reach  tfie  corner  of  an  enclosure,  and  keeping  this  L.  shall  turn  into  a 
narrow  way  between  rough  granite  walls,  1 50  yards  further  on.  This 
is  Gore  Hill,  and  it  will  lead  us  down  to  Lower  Hatchwell,  where  we 
cross  the  Broadford  Brook.  We  now  climb  the  steep  ascent  by  Lower 
Blackaton,  and  passing  Hill  Head,  descend  to  Grendon  Bridge.  Cross- 
ing the  West  Webburn  we  follow  the  road  westward  to  Ephr aim's 
Pinch  (Ex.  44),  and  thence  to  Runnage  Bridge,  where  the  Walla  Brook 
is  crossed.  The  road  then  goes  on  to  the  Princetown  highway,  nearly 
I  m.  distant,  where  we  turn  L.  The  directions  given  in  R.  35  must  now 
be  followed.  Two  Bridges  is  4^  m.  from  the  point  where  we  emerge 
on  the  high  road,  and  Princetown  6  m. 

R.  43. — To  Tavistock,  W.  by  S.  R.  42  A,  Bovey  to  Princetown, 
and  R.  i,  Princetown  to  Tavistock,  from  this  route.  25  m.  Reverse, 
R.  ii. 

From  Hemsworthy  Gate  to  the  junction  of  the  Cockingford  and 
Ponsworthy  roads  the  route  through  Blackslade  may  be  followed,  see 
R.  42  B.  If  the  rambler  does  not  cross  the  moor  by  way  of  Hexworthy, 
but  follows  the  road  from  the  gate  above  Huccaby  to  Two  Bridges, 
he  will,  of  course,  not  touch  Princetown,  but  will  go  direct  from  the 
last-named  place  to  Rundle  Stone.  For  directions  as  to  this  see 
R.  36  A. 

R.  44. — To  Lydford,  W.  by  N.  (A)  Via  SHALLOWFORD  AND  BELLA- 
FORD  BRIDGE  :  Lower  Down  Cross,  Hemsworthy  Gate,  Blackslade, 
Dunstone  Down,  Rowden  Down,  Shallowford,  Bellaford  Bridge,  Cherry 
Brook,  Longaford  Tor,  Bear  Down  Newtake  Wall,  Lich  Path,  White 
Barrow,  Hill  Bridge,  Down  Lane,  24  m.  (B)  Via  WIDECOMBE  AND 
POST  BRIDGE  :  Hemsworthy  as  above,  Widecombe,  Gore  Hill,  Grendon 
Bridge,  Runnage  Bridge,  Post  Bridge,  Princetown  Road,  Arch  Tor, 
Longaford  Tor,  thence  as  above,  25  m.  Reverse,  R.  18. 

[Objects:  Exs.  25,  26,  27,  44,  46,  5,  10.] 

(A)  Via  Shallowford.  This  route  is  identical  with  R.  42  B,  as  far 
as  the  bridge  over  the  Cherry  Brook  on  the  road  between  Post  Bridge 
and  Two  Bridges.  Here  the  rambler  will  strike  north-westward 
across  the  head  of  Gawler  Bottom,  with  the  Cherry  Brook  and  the  old 
Powder  Mills  L.  When  he  has  passed  the  latter,  that  is  to  say,  when 
about  \  m.  from  the  road,  he  will  turn  towards  Longaford,  which  rises 
prominently  on  the  ridge  to  the  W.,  his  direction  now  being  W.N.W. 
In  \  m.  from  the  brook  the  tor  will  be  reached.  The  rambler  must 
leave  it  L.  and  descend  to  the  WTest  Dart,  which  he  will  strike  at  Wist- 
man's  Wood  Ford,  or  where  the  Foxholes  Water  joins  the  river,  just 
above  it  (Ex.  5).  Here  the  wall  of  Bear  Down  Newtake  is  carried  over 
the  hill  in  front,  running  westerly  from  this  point.  The  rambler  will 
follow  it,  keeping  it  L.,  and  in  about  i  m.  will  reach  Travellers'  Ford, 
on  the  Cowsic  (Ex.  5).  He  will  now  find  himself  on  the  Lich  Path 
(T.  1 8),  which  he  will  follow  W.  In  i^  m.  the  Prison  Leat  is  reached. 


ROUTE  44.   BOVEY  TRACEY  TO  LYDFORD.     105 

and  just  beyond  it  Sandy  Ford,  on  the  Walkham.  The  old  path  then 
ascends  the  western  side  of  the  shallow  valley,  where  it  is  joined  by  the 
peat  track  from  Walkham  Head  to  Peter  Tavy  (T.  16),  and  then  passes 
close  to  White  Barrow,  which  is  seen  L.  (Ex.  8,  Extension).  When  the 
hill  is  crossed  the  peat  track  bends  L.,  and  the  traces  of  the  Lich  Path 
are  lost  for  a  time.  The  rambler  should  now  strike  a  little  N.  of  W. 
down  the  slope  to  the  wall  of  Longbetor  Newtake,  when  this  must  be 
kept  L.  Very  soon  he  will  enter  the  stroll  formed  by  this  and  other 
enclosures  of  Longbetor  Farm  on  one  hand,  and  those  belonging  to 
Bagga  Tor  Farm  on  the  other.  He  will  cross  this  stroll,  and  keeping 
the  wall  of  South  Common  (the  largest  of  the  Bagga  Tor  enclosures) 
R.,  will  find  himself  again  on  the  line  of  the  Lich  Path  (on  this  part  of 
which  the  later  Black  Lane  was  formed,  T.  19).  His  course  is  now  due 
W.  In  less  than  |  m.  he  will  reach  the  end  of  the  stroll,  and  passing 
through  a  gate  will  still  follow  the  track,  with  Bagga  Tor  R.  Ere  he 
has  gone  far  he  will  notice  another  gate  L.,  where  he  will  leave  the  down, 
and  make  his  way  by  the  road  for  about  \  m.  nearly  to  Wapsworthy 
Bridge  (Ex.  8),  where  he  will  enter  a  gate  R.  and  follow  a  path  across 
three  fields  to  Hill  Bridge,  on  the  Tavy.  From  this  point  the  way  to 
Lydford  by  Hill  Town,  Yard  Gate,  Forstall  Cross,  and  Down  Lane 
has  already  been  described  (R.  2  A). 

(Another  route  from  the  common  near  Bagga  Tor  may  be  followed, 
but  not  when  the  Tavy  is  in  flood,  as  the  river  has  to  be  crossed  at 
some  stepping-stones.  Instead  of  passing  through  the  gate  on  the  L.  to 
the  road,  the  rambler  should  still  follow  the  ancient  track  as  it  runs 
down  the  hill,  past  Brousen  Tor  Farm  to  the  Bagga  Tor  Brook,  which 
he  will  cross  at  Bagga  Tor  Clapper  (Ex.  10),  and  then  leaving  the  path, 
which  runs  on  to  Standon  Farm,  will  strike  N.W.  to  Willsworthy  Ford, 
or  Standon  Steps,  as  the  crossing-place  is  more  aften  called,  \  m. 
distant,  and  less  than  that  above  Cataloo  Steps,  where  the  Bagga  Tor 
Brook  falls  into  the  Tavy.  Having  gamed  the  further  bank  of  that 
river,  the  rambler  will  pass  upward  to  Willsworthy,  as  in  Ex.  10.  The 
path  to  Forstall  Cross  from  Willsworthy  Pound  by  way  of  Willsworthy 
Brook  and  Yellowmead  is  noticed  in  that  excurison. 

(B)  Via  Widecombe  and  Post  Bridge.  This  route  is  the  same  as 
R.  42  C  to  the  ninth  milestone  from  Moreton,  on  the  Princetown  road, 
and  rather  over  \  m.  S.W.  of  Post  Bridge.*  Here  the  rambler  will  leave 
the  road  and  strike  nearly  due  W.  towards  Arch  Tor,  the  small  mass 
of  rock  seen  on  the  hillside  across  Gawler  Bottom,  and  about  \  m. 
distant.  Just  below  it  is  the  Powder  Mills  Leat,  which  must  be  fol- 
lowed downward  to  a  footbridge.  Crossing  this,  and  still  steering  W., 
the  way  lies  over  Cherry  Brook  and  the  ridge  beyond  it,  to  a  point  a 
little  northward  of  Longaford  Tor.  When  this  is  reached  the  rambler 
will  be  on  the  line  described  ante. 

*  In  R.  42  C.  the  tourist  is  referred  to  R.  35.  He  may  either  join 
the  latter  as  described  in  R.  42  C.,  that  is,  by  following  the  road  from 
Runnage  Bridge  to  the  highway,  or  he  may  turn  L.  when  about  half 
way  to  the  latter  and  reach  it  at  the  point  where  the  Wesleyan  Chapel 
stands.  By  so  doing  he  will  be  led  past  Lower  Meripit,  one  of  the 
ancient  forest  tenements. 


i o6    ROUTE  45.   BOVEY  TRACEY  TO  OKEHAMPTON. 

R.  45. — To  Okehampton  and  Belstone,  N.W.  by  W.  The  more 
direct  route  is  through  Chagford  ;  see  R.  46  and  R.  38.  22  m. 
Reverse,  R.  24  and  R.  3 1 .  The  following  is  the  moor  route  : 

Lower  Down  Cross,  Trendlebere  Down,  Leigkon,  Swine  Down  Gate, 
Heytree  Cross,  Heather  combe,  Hookney  Down,  Bovey  River,  South  Teign, 
Teign  Clapper,  White  Moor  Stone,  Taw  Plain.  Distance  about  the 
same.  Reverse,  R.  25. 

[Objects  :  Ex.  24  to  17.] 


From  Bovey  Station  the  rambler  will  pass  up  the  hill  as  in  the 
preceding  routes,  but  will  turn  R.  at  Lower  Down  Cross  (rather  less 
than  i  m.),  from  which  point  to  Swine  Down  he  will  find  the  route 
described  in  Ex.  24.  It  will  lead  him  by  the  Lower  Terrace  Drive  past 
Yarner  Wood,  beyond  which  he  will  cross  the  slope  of  Black  HU1  to 
the  Leighon  road,  and  descend  to  the  bridge  below  that  place  ;  thence, 

Bissing  Great  Hound  Tor  Farm,  he  will  climb  the  hill  to  Hound  Tor 
own,  and  be  led  direct  to  Swine  Down  Gate  (R.  25,  32,  53).  He  will 
enter  this  and  take  the  road  L.,  which  will  lead  him  along  the  edge  of 
Swine  Down  and  Cripdon  Down  to  Heytree  Cross,  i-J-  m.  from  the  gate. 
Here  he  must  turn  L.,  and  passing  Heytree  will,  in  about  f  m.,  reach 
a  short  lane  leading  by  Heathercombe  (S.  Ex.  62)  to  the  common. 
From  this  point  the  course  will  be  W.N.W.  for  over  3  m.,  which  will 
bring  him  to  the  head  of  Metheral  Bogs  on  the  common  lands  belonging 
to  the  parish  of  Chagford.  First  he  will  reach  King  Tor  (Ex.  22), 
£  m.  from  Heathercombe,  and  passing  over  Hookney  Down  will  cross 
the  Challacombe  and  Grendon  road  i  m.  further  on,  and  J  m.,  beyond 
this  the  Princetown  and  Moreton  road,  whence  lie  will  descend  to 
the  Bovey  river,  £  m.  below  (Ex.  21).  About  \  m.  beyond  this  the 
rambler  will  find  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Metheral  Bogs.  Keeping 
this  mire  on  his  R.  he  will  strike  due  N.,  and  in  another  \  m.  will 
reach  the  road  running  out  to  Fernworthy,  which  farm  is  in  full  view 
(Ex.  20),  and  which  will  bring  him  to  the  South  Teign.  (See  R.  25 
for  remarks  on  crossing  this  stream).  At  the  corner  of  the  Fernworthy 
enclosures  eastward  of  the  house  he  will  take  a  northerly  course,  and 
passing  the  Long  Stone,  i  m.,  and  keeping  Kes  Tor  R.,  will  make 
his  way  to  Batworthy  Corner,  his  course  being  due  N.  from  the  menhir. 
Here  he  is  near  the  antiquities  noticed  hi  Ex.  20.  His  course  is  now 
N.N.W.  to  the  North  Teign,  the  path  being  close  to  the  wall  of  Bat- 
worthy  enclosures,  which  are  R.  Crossing  the  river  at  Teign  Clapper, 
close  to  the  holed  Stone  (Ex.  19),  he  will  make  his  way  over  Scorhill 
Down  past  the  stone  circle  which  he  will  see  on  the  slope  before  him. 
Hence  a  walk  of  2  m.,  the  course  being  N.W.,  will  bring  him  to  the 
shoulder  of  Kennon  Hill,  near  White  Moor  Stone,  from  which  point 
the  route  is  the  same  as  R.  38  B,  which  will  also  show  the  way  to 
Belstone. 

If  bound  for  Sticklepath  the  rambler  will  steer  N.  from  Scorhill 
Circle,  and  make  his  way  over  the  down,  with  Berry  Down  Stroll  and 
Creber  R.  (Ex.  19),  to  the  detached  newtake  on  the  side  of  Buttern 
Hill,  J  m.  He  will  pass  below  this,  and  bearing  a  little  to  the  R.,  will 
soon  reach  Ensworthy,  where  he  will  strike  the  road  running  on  to 
Shilstone  Tor  (Ex.  18),  from  which  point  the  directions  given  in  R.  38  A 
must  be  followed. 


ROUTE  46.   BOVEY  TRACEY  TO  CHAGFORD.     107 

R.  46. — To  Moreton  and  Chagford,  N.W.  Atwayt  Woolley, 
King's  Cross,  Slade,  Kelly,  Wray  Cleave,  Wray  Barton,  Hayne,  Moreton  ; 
thence  to  Chagford.  To  Moreton,  6£  m.  ;  to  Chagford,  1 1  m.  Reverse, 

R.  31- 

This  is  a  road  route.  The  way  lies  by  Cross  Cottage  and  Atway,  as 
hi  S.  Ex.  72.  About  |  m.  beyond  the  latter  the  visitor  will  bear  L.  to 
Woolley,  whence  he  will  keep  R.  to  King's  Cross,  i  m.  from  Bovey. 
Still  bearing  R.  his  next  point  will  be  Slade,  where  is  a  guide-post,  and 
another  further  on  at  Kelly  Cross.  From,  this  point  he  will  bear  N.W., 
and  will  soon  reach  a  milestone  marking  3f-  m.  from  Bovey  and  from 
Moreton,  where  a  road  turns  I,,  to  I/ustleigh.  The  way  still  runs  N.W., 
with  Wray  Cleave  R. 

(For  the  route  between  Moreton  and  Chagford  see  beginning  of 
Chagford  District). 

CRANMEKE.  See  Routes  from  Chagford  ante.  Those  from  Post 
Bridge,  or  the  Warren  House  Inn,  which  are  reached  by  R.  42  C.t 
are  given  in  Part  I. 

[Near  the  southern  entrance  to  the  church  at  Moreton,  and  in  the 
main  thoroughfare,  stand  the  remains  of  an  old  cross  on  an  octagonal 
pedestal  of  granite.  On  this  base  also  once  flourished  the  pollard  elm, 
so  long  the  pride  of  Moreton,  known  as  the  Cross  Tree,  and  also,  from 
its  shape,  as  the  Punch  Bowl  Tree.  Its  branches  were  so  trained  that 
they  formed  a  huge  bowl,  as  it  were,  and  a  table  and  seats  being  fixed 
within  this,  many  convivial  meetings  were  held  there.  The  one-time 
president  of  these  gatherings  was  a  certain  Red-post  Fynes,  so  called 
from  his  custom  of  painting  the  gate-posts  of  his  fields  a  bright  red. 
He  is  stated  in  Mrs.  Bray's  Tamar  and  Tavy,  published  in  1836,  to  have 
been  unable  to  spell  even  the  commonest  words.  Nevertheless,  he  on:e 
accomplished  the  feat  of  spelling  the  word  "  usage,"  and,  what  is  more, 
he  did  it  without  employing  a  single  letter  belonging  to  it.  He  rendered 
it  "  yowzitch."  Mr.  E.  Tozer,  who  wrote  under  the  name  of  Tickler, 
has  fastened  this  story  upon  a  certain  John  Roberts,  who  once  lived 
on  the  moor,  and  unfortunately  this  has  been  repeated.  A  floor  was 
laid  in  the  Punch  Bowl  Tree,  so  that  the  worthies  who  gathered  there 
were  made  as  comfortable  as  though  they  had  been  in  the  "  best  inn's 
best  room."  But  it  was  not  only  talk  that  was  engaged  in.  Sometimes 
dancing  took  place  there  on  summer  evenings.  At  that  time  Moreton 
had  a  sort  of  fashionable  season,  and  many  guests  used  to  stay  at  the 
I/ondon  Inn,  near  by.  These  reached  the  tree  by  ascending  some  steps 
in  the  garden  of  the  inn  to  the  top  of  the  wall,  from  which  a  bridge  was 
laid  to  the  leafy  ballroom.  There  was  sufficient  room  for  a  goodly 
company  and  for  six  couples  to  dance.  Some  French  officers,  who  in 
the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  lived  at  Moreton  as  prisoners 
of  war  on  parole,  formed  a  band,  and  used  to  play  on  the  tree.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  the  elm  figures  as  the  Dancing  Tree  in  Blackmore's 
Christowell.  Much  injury  was  done  to  it  by  a  storm  in  October,  1891, 
and  at  another  time  by  a  passing  circus  wagon,  and  in  September,  1903, 
a  heavy  gale  completed  the  wreck,  the  tree  being  then  blown  down.] 


Index. 


Ashwell  Lane      83 

Assacombe,  13,  17  ;  Brook. .      53 

Atway 82 

Aune  Head          ..      ..       50,  51 

B 

Bag  Tor,    81  ;   90  ;   Down,    79  ; 

Mire,  92. 
Barn  House  Barton          . .     84 

Barracott 37 

Barramoor  Bridge      . .      .  .     48 

Barton  Down      40 

Battey  Meres      10 

Batworthy  (Bovey)  . .  . .  3 
Batworthy  (Teign),  12  ;  Corner, 

12,  15. 

Bawden,  Moses 22 

Becky,  The,  75,  79  ;  Cottage,  89  ; 

Fall,  75,  88,  89. 
Beetor,  4  ;  Bridge,  4  ;  Cross,  4,  34 

Bennet's  Cross 20 

Beridon.     See  Berry  Down. 
Berry  Down        ..          5,   11,  28 

Berry  Pound       35 

Birch  Tor 20 

Bishop's  Stone,  The  . .  72 
Bittleford  Down  . .  . .  49 
Black  Hill  (Hey  Tor) . .  76,  80 
Blackaton  Brook  . .  . .  3 
Blackingstone  Rock  .  .  . .  40 
Blackstone  (N.  Teign)  . .  10 
Blackystone  (Bridford)  . .  40 
Bonehill,  95  ;  Down,  77,  95  ; 

Rocks,  65,  78. 

Bot  Tor       82 

Bovey,  The  ..  18,  19,  83 
Bovey  Bridge  . .  . .  36,  37 
Bovey  Combe  Head  ..  18,25 
Bovey,  North.  See  North 

Bovey. 
Bovey     Tracey,     61,     62,     69; 

Crosses  at,  69. 

Bowden  Mill        35 

Bowerman's  Nose      ..       74,  75 


Bowling  Green,  The          . .  47 

Bradford  Pool 47 

Brady  Park        82 

Brent  Moor  House    ..      ..  55 

Bridford       39 

Brimstone  Down           3,  n,  15 

.Britten,  Capt 36 

Broadmead  Cottage  . .      . .  36 

Brownhills 13 

Budd,  P.  N 12 

Bughead  Cross    . .      . .   3,  4,  34 

Bush  Down         19 

Butterdon  (Moreton)         .  .  42 

Buttern  Hill        5 


Challacombe  Down  .  .  . .  22 
Chappie,  William  .  .  . .  46 
Chericombe  Head  ..  ..  83 
Chinkwell  Tor  . .  . .  65,  77 

Chittlef  ord 99 

Chough  Gully 20 

Christow,  39,  40  ;  Common,  40 

Circular  Stones 31 

Clampitt  Down 40 

Clifford  Bridge  . .  . .  40,  41 
Coal  Mures  (Hameldon)  . .  96 

Coaker,  Jonas 68 

Cold  East  Cross         . .      . .     49 

Collerewe      3 

Collihole       31 

Combe  Farm,  45  ;  Vale  . .  45 
Corndon,  Higher  . .  . .  19 

Cosdon         39 

Cranbrook  Castle,  41,  42  ;  Down, 

4i,  42,  43- 

Cranmere      56  to  60 

Creber  Pound  .  .  . .  5,  27 
Cripdon  Down  . .  . .  48,  77 

Crock  of  Gold 102 

Cross  Cottage      82 

Croker,  Dr 74,  8 1 

Cross  Furzes        50 

Cuckoo  Stone      5 


INDEX. 


XVlll. 


D 

Davy,  Rev.  William . .      . .  70 

Deal  Copse          89 

Dog,  A  Faithful         . .      .  .  23 

Dogamarsh  Bridge     . .      . .  44 

Dolphin  Hotel 82 

Drewsteignton 45 

Drewston 2 

Druids'  Altar      40 

Duke  Stone         79 

Dunsford  Bridge        . .      .  .  40 


Easdon         37 

East  Down          . .      . .       35,  37 

Easton          41 

Ellimore       85,  86 

Ellis,  William 91 

Elsford  Rock      84 

Endacott,  James        . .      . .       9 
Ensworthy 5 


Fairbrook     ........      36 

Fall,  John   ........     34 

Featherbed  Lane        .  .      .  .      28 

Fernworthy,  13  ;  Clapper  at,  13 
Fingle  Bridge,  43  ;  Mill     .  .     43 
Firth  Bridge        .  .      .  .       34,  49 

Fitz-Ralphs,  The        .  .      .  .     67 

Five  Lanes          ......      82 

Five  Wyches  Cross    .  .       75,  76 
Flint  Implements       .  .      .  .      12 

Fo  ale's  Arrishes          .  .      .  .    100 

Forder          ........      26 

Forest  Inn  ........    102 

Four  Aces,  The          .  .      .  .      20 

Foxes'  Yard        .  .      .  .       85,  86 

Foxworthy,  72,  73;    Bridge,  85 
Frenchbere  ......         3,  31 

Froggymead  Hill,  13,  14  ;  Circle 

on,  14,  29. 
Furlong        ........     46 

Furseleigh    ........      82 


G 


6,  8 


Gallaven       ...... 

Gates.     See  Moor  Gates. 
Gerrard,  Rev.  John  .  .      .  .     68 

Giant's  Grave     ......     41 

Gidleigh,    26,    27  ;    Castle,    27  ; 

Chase,  27. 
Gidleigh  Park  Bridge  .  .      .  .     47 


Gobbet  Plain      50 

Golden  Dagger  Mine         . .  22 

Gore  Hill 97 

Gradner  Rocks 88 

Gratnar        48 

Grave,  A  Little          . .      . .  36 

Grea  Tor      78 

Great  Hill  Copse        . .      . .  84 

Great  Week         2 

Green  Combe      34 

Grey,  Rev.  W 47 

Grey  Wethers,  The,   14,   15,  29 

Grini's  Lake,  23  ;  Pound,  23,  24, 
34,  38. 

H 

Half  Moon 73 

Half  Way  House  (Moreton),  2 
Holshanger  Cross  . .  . .  92 
Hameldon,  35,  63,  64  ;  Beacon, 

96  ;  Cross,  96. 

Hammerslake      86 

Hannaford,.  J ames,  23  ;  John,  23 

Harton  Chest      72 

Harton,  North,  85  ;  Down. .  72 
Harton,  South  . .  72,  85,  86 

Hawkeswell 79 

Hayne  Cross,  74  ;  Down,  74,  75 

Hazelwood 82 

Headland  Warren      . .       22,  49 

Headless  Cross 41 

Heath  Stone       12 

Heathercombe 38 

Hedge  Barton     . .      . .       76,  77 

Hel  Tor        40 

Hele,  Cross  at 35 

Hemstone  Rocks  . .  . .  14 
Hemsworthy  Gate  .  .  . .  93 
Heng  Lake  Gully  . .  50,  5 1 

Hennock       39,  83 

Hew  Down,  9  ;  Glitter  . .  9 
Hew  Lake,  10  ;  Foot  . .  10 
Hewthorn  Glitter  . .  . .  9 

Hexworthy          50 

Hey  Tor,  80,  81,  82,  89  ;  Down, 

79  ;  Railway,  80. 

Hey  Tor  Vale 90 

Heytree,  77  ;  Common  Lane,  77  ; 

Cross,  48. 

Highbury  Bridge  . .  . .  3 
Higher  Terrace  Drive,  75,  76,  78 
Kingston  Down  (Moreton),  39  ; 

Rocks,  39,  40. 


INDEX. 


Hisley,  Higher,   85  ;   Lower,   85 

Hole  Rock 79 

Holed  Stone  (Tolmen),  n,  12,  28 
Holwell,      78  ;      Cottage,      80 ; 

Down,  80  ;  Tor,  80. 
Holy  Street         . .      . .         3,  27 
Honeybag  Tor    ..      ..       65,  77 

Hookaway 74 

Hookney  Tor      25 

Horse  Pit  Cross .  .      . .       36,  37 
Horsham  Bay,  73  ;  Cleave,  85  ; 

Steps,  73,  85. 
Hound  Tor  (Manaton),  48,  76  ; 

Combe,  78,  93,  94  ;  Down, 

76,  77  ;  Kist,  78. 
Hourder  Plantation  . .      . .     37 

Howton        42 

Hundred    Acre    Plantation,    45 

Hunts  Tor 44 

Hunters'  Tor  72,  85,  86 ;  Path,  86 
Hurston,  33  ;  Castle,  19  ;  Ridge, 

1 6. 


Ilsington,  90,  91  ;  Common,  79 
Inn  Down 40 

J 

Jay's  Grave        76 

John  Cann's  Rocks  . .      . .  82 

Jordan  Ball         98 

Jones,  Rev.  J.  P 36 

Jurston  4  ;   Common,  4  ;   Cross, 
4  ;  Gate,  4. 


Kelly  Corner       84 

Kendpn        38 

Kennick  Reservoir    . .      . .     40 

Kes  Tor       30 

Kiln  Down          40 

King  Arthur       40 

King's  Barrow 25 

King's  Cross 48,  83 

King's  Oven        ..      ..       17,  18 
Knowle  Wood 84 


L  Corner      79 

Lade  Hill  Bottom     . .      . .     54 

Lakeland      19,  34 

Lamb,  Mr 9 


Lambs  Down  Farm  . .      . .     50 

Langdon       38 

Langstone  (Bovey)    ..      ..     39 

Laployd  Down 40 

Leigh  Bridge  . .  . .  3,  27 
Leighon,  89  ;  Tor  . .  78,  80 

Lemon,  The        81 

Lemson.     See  Lambs  Down. 
Letchole  Plantation  . .      . .     87 

Leusdon       49 

Liapa 35 

Lid  Gate      50 

Little  Silver  . .  73,  85,  87 
Lock's  Gate  Cross  . .  98,  102 
Lower  Down  Cross  . .  75,  76 
Lower  Terrace  Drive  75,  76 

Long  Pool 79 

Long  Ridge  ..  ..  14,  1 5 
Longstone  (Kes  Tor)  . .  12 
Lowton  Brook,  16  ;  Hut  Circles, 

1 6. 

Luckdon,  Higher,  39  ;  Lower,  87 
Lustleigh,  70  ;  Inscribed  Stone 

at,  70. 

Lustleigh  Cleave  72,  83,  85 
Lynscott  42 


M 
Manaton,  39,  73,  74,  87  ;  Cross, 

74  ;  Rocks,  39. 

Mandles        9 

Manga  Brook,  9  ;  Hill,  9  ;  Rock,  9 

Mangersford        10 

Map  Stone 72 

Mardon  Down    . .      . .       40,  41 

Mason,  Rev.  J .  H 68 

Maxima]  or  Stone        . .      . .     41 
Meldon  Hill  (Chagford),  4,    16, 

31,  35,48;  Hall,  4,  33,  38 

Meripit,  Lower 105 

Metheral     (Chagford),     4,     16 ; 

Bogs,  32  ;  Brook,  16. 

Middlecott 35 

Mining  Huts       . .      . .        6,  16 

Moor  Barton       84 

Moor  Gate  ..      ..         4,   19,  35 

Moor  Gates 19 

Moor  Park  Hotel  (Chagford),  44 
Moorland  Dwellings  . .      . .     31 

Moortown 5 

Mount  Plaggon 47 

Murchington        . .      . .       26,  46 


INDEX. 


N 
Narrowcombe     ......     78 

Natsworthy  ......       77,  96 

Nattadon     .  .      .  .         32,  35,  48 

Neadon  Cleave   ......      73 

New  Bridge  (Becky)          ..      75 
New  Bridge  (Wray)  .  .      .  .      70 

Newhouse  (Nr.  Rippon  Tor),  48 
Newtake       ........        8 

Niprell,  The        ......     65 

North  Bovey,   35  to  39  ;  Cross 

at,  36. 
North  Hall          ......     67 

North  Hill  Lane        .  .      .  .        3 

North  Teign        ......      10 

Northcombe  Copse     .  .      .  .      83 

Nutcrackers  (Lustleigh)    .  .      72 


O 
Ockment  Hill      ......        8 

Ockside  Hill        ......        8 

Old  Jack      ........      79 

Old  William        ......     79 

Ormerod,  G.  W.         .  .       30,  47 
Owlacombe  Barrow  .  .       78,  79 


Packsaddle  Bridge  (Wray),  70,83 
Padley  Common  ..  26,  31 
Parson's  Brown  Loaf  .  .  72 

Peck  Pits 73 

Pengelly,  William  . .  . .  37 
Pepperdon  Down  . .  .  .  40 
Piddledown  Common  . .  44 
Pixies'  Parlour  (Drewsteignton), 

45- 

Pixies'   Parlour  (Gidleigh),  5 

Play  Cross 50 

Prestonbury         43 

Prince  of  Wales         . .      . .  79 

Puggie  Stone       27 

Punch  Bowl,  The      . .      .  .  47 

Punch  Bowl  Tree      . .      . .  107 


Q 


Quintin's  Man 

R 

Ravens' Tor        85 

Red  Lake,  51  ;  Clay  Works,  55 

Rippon  Tor         80 


Rival  Tor 

Roo,  John 

Round  Pound 

Rowden  Ball,  98  ;  Down 

Royal  Hill  .  . 


6 
II 
II 

49 

52 


Rue  Lake  (Teign),  6  ;  Pit. .      '6 

Ruggle  Stone      99 

Rushford  Barton,  47  ;  Mill,  47  ; 
Wood,  47. 


80,  8 1 
..     47 


Saddle  Tor 

Sands  Gate 

Sanduck 

Sandy  Hole         . .      . .       53,  54 

Sandy  Park,  45  ;   Bridge..   '  44 

Scorhill  Circle,  n,  28  ;  Rocks,  6 

Seven  Lords'  Land    . .      . .     93 

Shap  Tor 83 

Shapley  Common,  35  ;  Tor,  25 
Sharp  Tor  (Lustleigh),  72,  85 
Sharp  Tor  (Teign)  . .  . .  44 
Sherburton  Firs  . .  . .  50 
Shilston  (Drewsteignton)  46 
Shilstone  (Throwleigh)  . .  26 

Shorter  Cross      35 

Shovel  Down  Antiquities,  12,  30 

Siddaford  Tor 15 

Silk  House  ....  13 

Sig,  The       81,  90 

Skat  Tor      ^o 

Skerraton  Down  eo 

Slades  Well         77 

Smallacombe  Rocks,  78,  79,  80 

Soussons       07 

South  Harton     . .  8 «    86 

South  Hill ,0 

South  Teign        3! 

Spanish  Lake      $2 

Spinsters'  Rock,  45,  46  4.7 
Spitchwick  ..  ..  ..  T.  50 

Standon  Steps 105 

Steeperton  Brook  . .  . .  g 
Stephens,  William  67 

Stiniel ]       4 

Stone  Cross  .  .  .  .  '.[  45 
Stone  Row  at  Challacombe,  22 
Stone  Tor  ....  Q 

Stone  Tor  Hill   . .      ''.'.      '10,  15 

Stony  Bottom '51 

Swete,  Rev.  John  .  .  . .  47 
Swine  Down,  48  ;  Gate  . .  76 


INDEX. 


Tannaford 
Taw  Rocks 
Tawton  Gate 
Teign,  North,    10  ; 
Teign  Clapper     . . 
Teigncombe,    3,    28 

Lane,  28. 
Teignhead  Bridge,  9, 

8,  9,  29. 

Teignhead  Gorge 
Templer,  George 
Thorn  (Chagford) 
Thorn  (N.   Bovey) 
Thornworthy,     31  ; 

Tor,  13. 

Three  Boys..      .. 
Throwleigh 
Thurlestone 
Tinhill  Copse 
Tolmen,  The 
Tom's  Hill  . . 
Top  Tor       . . 
Tottiford  Reservoir 
Trendlebere  Down 
Trowlesworthy  Tors 

Trumpeter 

Tunhill,  99  ;  Kist,  99  ; 

U 
Uppacott,  41,  42  ;  Down 

V 

Varracombe,      Great, 
Little,  15. 

Victoria        

Vogwell  Down    . . 

W 

Walla  Brook,  6,  10,  I 
10  ;  Combe,  6,  8. 
Walland  Hill       ..      . 
Wanford  Wood  . 


Watching  Place          .  .      .  .      34 

..      ..        3 

Water  Cleave      86 

..      ..        8 

Water  Hill  17 

3.  16,  53 

Watercombe        52 

South,   3  1 

Watern  Tor,  6,  8,  29  ;  Borough,  9 

10,  28,  106 

Waye  Barton,   3,   16  ;  Cross,   55 

;    Common 

Waye  Down        40 

Weddicott,  Higher     .  .      .  .      38 

10  ;  Farm, 

Webburn,  East,  63,  65  ;  West,  63 

Week  Down        .  .      .  .       32,  35 

..      ..       9 

Westcombe  Down      .  .      .  .     48 

.  .      .  .     80 

Whiddon  Down,  45  ;  Park,  2,  44  ; 

..      ..       3 

Wood,  44. 

3,  35 

White  Gate          93 

Kist,     13; 

White  Hart  Hotel  (Moreton),  39 

White  Moor  Stone     .  .      .  .       6 

12 

White  Water      44 

.  .        .  .        26 

Whitstone    40 

8,  9  . 

Whoodlake  10 

.  .      .  .      84 

Whooping  Rock         .  .      .  .      37 

II,   12,  28 

Widecombe,  65  to  68  ;  Church, 

.  .        ..        14 

65,  66  ;  Pair,  68  ;  Hill,  94. 

.  .     IOO 

Wild  Banks  Newtake        .  .      54 

.  .     .  .    40 

Wild  Tor,  6,  8  ;  Well,          6,  8 

•  •      72,  75 

Wilford  Bridge    83 

..     52 

Willing's  Hill      52 

.  .      .  .     89 

Willingstone  Rock     .  .      .  .     41 

;  Rocks,  99 

Wind  Tor    98 

Wonson        26 

Wood  Hill  40 

wn   .  .     42 

Woolley        83 

Wooston  Castle            40,  41,  42 

Worm  Hill  Bridge       .  .         4,  34 

9,      15  ; 

Wray,  The  83,  84 

Wray  Cleave       48 

.  .      .  .      79 

••       38,77 

Y 

Yard     35 

i  ;  Bridge, 

Yardworthy         3 

Yarner,  79  ;  Wells,   75,  78,  79, 

•      ••       3 

80  ;  Wood,  75,  78,  79,  87,  88 

.      ..     85 

Yellands       4 

32,   33,   34 

Yeo  Bridge,  3  ;  Mill   .  .      .  .      30 

DA 

6?0 

D2C79 


v.2 


Crossing,  *illiam 

Guide  to  Dartmoor 
r3d»  ed.j 


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